[N&A Co., Ltd.] Aomori Prefecture’s first art festival, which lasted for 142 days, has come to a close with a total attendance of over 300,000 people.
*N&A Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 4, 2024
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Aomori Prefecture’s first art festival, which lasted for 142 days, has come to a close with a total attendance of over 300,000 people. *AOMORI GOKAN Art Festival 2024 “Tsuranari no Harappa”*
September 1, 2024 5 museum touring exhibition Takashi Kuribayashi “Genki Furnace” Final destination Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum Photo: Ryo Narita
– *Public art museums and art centers collaborate, and curators from each museum work together to create themes and plans*
*A new type of art festival*
– *Aomori Prefecture’s first art event based on art, promoting excursions both outside and within the prefecture, centered on the four host cities*
– * Collaborative projects such as “Learning Programs” will continue to be implemented even after the exhibition ends*
Five museums and art centers in Aomori Prefecture where you can enjoy contemporary art (Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art, Aomori Public University)
AOMORI GOKAN Art Festival held by Aomori International Art Center, Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum, Hachinohe City Museum of Art, Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art)
2024 “Tsuranari no Harappa” welcomed over 300,000 visitors
(preliminary figures) to the exhibition, and ended its 142-day period on Sunday, September 1st.
This art festival, the first of its kind in Aomori Prefecture, has the theme of “Harappa of Tsuranari” and aims to create new relationships between each facility that is engaged in unique activities. With this in mind, curators from each museum who are rooted in this area have worked together to implement a variety of programs, including exhibitions and projects, that take advantage of the characteristics of each museum. In addition, using art as a starting point, we promoted culture such as nature, food, and architecture in each region of Aomori Prefecture, focusing on the four host cities (Aomori City, Hirosaki City, Hachinohe City, and Towada City), and encouraged people to tour around the area. As a result, there were many people from outside the prefecture who came to Aomori Prefecture for the first time because of this art festival, and many visitors from other areas within the prefecture as well.
Even after the art festival ends, the five museums will continue to work together through a gradual “connection” while demonstrating the characteristics and potential of each museum. We would like to express our gratitude to all the participating artists, guest artists, event participants, supporting companies and organizations, and festival supporters.
[Main project]
* 〇Aomori Museum of Art “Kasanari and Migiwari” *
First term: April 13th (Sat) – June 23rd (Sun) / Second term: July 6th (Sat) – September 29th (Sun)
[Participating artists] Jun Aoki, Daisuke Ida, Noriyuki Haraguchi, Katsuro Yoshida, Hiroko Yoshida, Yumiko Omori, Kishi Omori, Yuki Yoshida, Shusuke Ao, Virtualion, Kenya Yoshida, Shintaro Muroya, KOYA, Itomushi, Nakaya, Toyokawa Kaya, Rie Kubota, Kika Sanyoko, Haruka Miyano
Aomori Museum of Art Exterior
“Kasanari and Mashiwari” exhibition view
* 〇Aomori Public University International Art Center Aomori “Currents / Undercurrents – Now, the dazzling flow meets” *
First term: April 13th (Sat) – June 30th (Sun) / Second term: July 13th (Sat) – September 29th (Sun)
[Participating artists] Jumana Emil Abboud, Fumiaki Aono, Ai Iwane, Sakura Koretsune, Shoji Kudo, Koichi Mitsuoka, Koji Nakajima, Kyoichi Sawada, Masaharu Suzuki, Robin White
[Venue composition] Riku Yamakawa
Aomori Public University International Art Center Aomori Exterior Sakura Koretsune exhibition view
* 〇Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum *
* “Mika Ninagawa Exhibition with Eim: Ephemeral (Sana) Glittering (Kira) Boundary WHERE HUMANITY MEETS
Nature”*
April 6th (Sat) – September 1st (Sun)
* “Hirosaki Exchange #06 “Shirakami Peeking”” *
[Participating artists] Tetsuro Kano, Tomoko Sato, Aoi Nagasawa, L PACK. April 6th (Sat) – September 1st (Sun)
Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum Exterior
Exhibition view Mika Ninagawa
Exhibition view Tetsuro Kano
*〇Hachinohe City Museum of Art “Enjoy! Art Farm!!”*
April 13th (Sat) – September 1st (Sun)
[Participating artists] Mirai Isojima, Yukio Urushibata, Mainu Shibayashi, Yuji Hachiya, Yuhei Higashikata
Hachinohe City Museum of Art
Exhibition view Shibayamainu
* 〇Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art “Becoming a Stray” * April 13th (Sat) – November 17th (Sun)
Participating artists] Umiko Niwa, Yoko Uhara, Anais Karenin, Kosuke Nagata Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art Exterior
Exhibition view Anais Karenin
* [Common project] Takashi Kuribayashi “Genki-ro Trip” “Aomori GENKI-RO Trip” * As a common project, we exhibited Takashi Kuribayashi’s Genki Furnace, which will be touring each museum. The Genki Reactor, which is a nuclear reactor-shaped structure that generates steam with the scent of medicinal herbs, is on display in a form tailored to the facility. In addition, “Aomori
GENKI-RO
“Trip,” a live performance with musician Sho Tatsuda and locally active performers ranging from local music from various regions of Aomori to jazz and classical music. We also screened the video works of photographer and filmmaker Rai Shizuno.
Aomori Museum of Art Exhibition
Aomori Public University International Art Center Aomori Exhibition Scene
Hachinohe City Museum of Art Exhibition
Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art Exhibition
Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum exhibition view
* [Common Project] Learning Program *
▼Distribution of “GOKAN File Book” viewing tool for upper elementary school students (4th to 6th grade)
▼“High School Students Summer Program” for high school students will be held on August 10th (Aomori Museum of Art)
We have introduced a “Learning Program” common to all five museums. GOKAN is a common viewing tool for all five museums aimed at upper grades of elementary school.
Created a file book. At the same time, we held an art appreciation program for high school students in Aomori Prefecture. We held a philosophical dialogue workshop with Rei Nagai (philosophy researcher) as a guest. Appreciation tool “GOKAN”
In addition to distributing the “File Book” to visitors, it will also be distributed to elementary schools (all eligible children) mainly in the four host cities. In the future, we will continue to work on appreciation education using museums.
Upper grade elementary school learning program
High school student summer school
* 5 museums that stimulate the five senses – AOMORI GOKAN will continue to spread the charm of Aomori art *
April 2024, Aomori Public University
New directors have been appointed at the Aomori International Art Center and the Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum. We will continue to convey the charm of Aomori art while highlighting the individuality of each museum.
From the left
Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art Director Meruro Washida Hachinohe City Museum of Art Director Shinya Sato
Aomori Museum of Art Director Yasuo Sugimoto
Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum Director Eriko Kimura
Aomori Public University International Art Center Aomori Director Hiroyuki Hattori