Osaka Art & Design 2024: Unleashing Creativity Across the Cityscape, A Four-Week Art Extravaganza Across 50 Venues
Osaka Art & Design (OAD) is returning for its second year! From May 29 to June 25, 2024, you can expect an extraordinary four-week extravaganza that will transform the streets of Osaka into a sprawling canvas of art and design. This vibrant event will invite visitors to immerse themselves in a dynamic showcase across 50 venues throughout the city.
Osaka Art & Design (OAD) is returning for its second year! From May 29 to June 25, 2024, you can expect an extraordinary four-week extravaganza that will transform the streets of Osaka into a sprawling canvas of art and design. This vibrant event will invite visitors to immerse themselves in a dynamic showcase across 50 venues throughout the city.
The heart of OAD will be the bustling north-south avenue from Umeda to Namba, where a diverse array of passionate creators will captivate audiences with their unique artistic expressions. From galleries to boutiques, attendees can discover and appreciate a rich tapestry of artworks, furniture pieces, and fashion items. What's more, many of these remarkable creations will be available for purchase, offering a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts and collectors to own a piece of this vibrant event.
Building upon the resounding success of its inaugural year, which drew 50 exhibitors, 150 artists and designers, and over 80,000 visitors, OAD 2024 aims to elevate the festival to new heights with expanded support and participation from hosting organizations.
This year's event, "Expanding Resonance," is a call for participants to forge meaningful connections and embrace diversity. By candidly expressing themselves and breaking free from conventions, they can unleash fresh energy and creativity in Osaka's vibrant urban landscape. The event aims to create an atmosphere of dynamic collaboration and exploration, where unexpected synergies can flourish, and new opportunities can arise.
As Osaka gears up for Expo 2025, the city is alive with a unique vibrancy, drawing creators from across Japan, particularly the Kansai region, to converge at OAD. This annual spectacle not only celebrates Osaka's rich cultural identity but also serves as a global showcase of the city's creative prowess. Through collaborative efforts with department stores, galleries, and businesses spanning Kita to Minami, OAD is positioning Osaka as a beacon of creativity and innovation on the world stage, and we invite you to be part of this exciting journey.
The Osaka Art & Design 2024, a highly anticipated event, will redefine the city's artistic landscape with its captivating programs. The Hankyu Department Store Osaka Umeda Main Store, one of the hosts, will present the Hankyu Art Fair 2024. This platform is not just an exhibition but a marketplace for remarkable artworks. It will feature creations by renowned artists like Kohei Nawa, Daisuke Ohba, and Mika Shinagawa, each with their unique style and perspective, alongside emerging talents. The fair's goal is to not only showcase these artworks but also to make art a part of everyday life, a norm rather than an exception.
The Hankyu Department Store Osaka Umeda Main Store is among the hosts presenting the Hankyu Art Fair 2024. This platform will exhibit and sell remarkable artworks created by renowned artists such as Kohei Nawa, Daisuke Ohba, and Mika Shinagawa alongside emerging talents. The goal of the fair is not only to showcase these artworks but also to normalize the integration of art into everyday life.
As an official program of OAD 2024, HIZO Market stands as a testament to innovation, showcasing prototypes and treasured works that have undergone rigorous experimentation and refinement. This market seeks to cultivate a new creation market, showcasing the ingenuity and dedication of creators in their quest for artistic excellence.
The multitude of individual events under OAD 2024's banner is set to unveil new horizons in art and design, offering attendees a unique opportunity to explore the diverse and dynamic creative landscape of Osaka. With a mission to showcase Osaka's exceptional creativity to the world and breathe new life into the art and design scene of the Kansai region, OAD 2024 is not just an event but a platform for fostering meaningful connections and interactions between individuals, artworks, and ideas. Your participation is crucial in making this mission a success.
The OAD 2024 Executive Committee supports these encounters and interactions, nurturing resonance and connections that inspire further growth and development in Osaka's proud creative legacy. We eagerly anticipate your participation in this celebration of creativity and innovation at Osaka Art & Design 2024.
About Osaka Art & Design 2024
Period: May 29 (Wednesday) to June 25 (Tuesday), 2024, for 4 weeks
Concept: Resonance—Expanding the Echo
Areas: Umeda, Dojima, Nakanoshima, Tenma, Kyomachibori, Minami-Senba, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and other locations within Osaka City
Venues: Open spaces, galleries, shops, department stores, commercial facilities
Organizer: Osaka Art & Design 2024 Executive Committee
Osaka Terminal Building Co., Ltd.,Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd., Osaka Store of Takashimaya Co., Ltd.,Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores Inc.,
Nankai Electric Railway Co. Ltd., andHankyu Corporation
(Business agent: Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.) Umeda 1-chome Area Management
Exhibitors: Creators (artists, designers), brands, galleries, shops, and other facilities/corporations from Japan and abroad (about 50 places)
Producer: General Producer Akio Aoki (DESIGNART)
Kang Myonghi: The Colors of Time
In a momentous stride, VILLEPIN inaugural exhibition in Seoul, "Kang Myonghi: The Colors of Time," has emerged as a resounding success, laying the foundation for a captivating chapter in our artistic journey through Korea.
In a momentous stride, VILLEPIN inaugural exhibition in Seoul, "Kang Myonghi: The Colors of Time," has emerged as a resounding success, laying the foundation for a captivating chapter in our artistic journey through Korea.
Behind the Scenes with Curators
In an exclusive video feature, co-curators Arthur de Villepin and Dominique de Villepin invite art enthusiasts on a journey into the heart of Myonghi's artistic odyssey. Unveiling the layers of Myonghi's rare artistic commitment amidst an era of unprecedented change, the video explores her travels from the Gobi Desert to the glaciers of Patagonia, where she seeks the primordial origins of our times.
A Global Trailblazer
Kang Myonghi, a trailblazing painter, has left an indelible mark as the first Korean female artist exhibited in top-tier museums and international institutions. From Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris to the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, her artistic footprint spans the globe. Alongside her husband Setaik Yim, she founded the iconic Musée de Séoul in 1981, South Korea's pioneering Museum of Art.
Vibrant Compositions
Myonghi's latest compositions weave a vibrant tapestry, echoing her cultural heritage with vivid colors and intricate brushwork. Each stroke resonates with the essence of Korean and Asian landscapes, traditions, and spirituality.
International Presence
Myonghi's artistic journey has graced esteemed institutions, including the Beijing National Art Museum, Ningbo Museum of Art, Shanghai Museum of Art, and Beijing Art Museum of Imperial City in China. Her recent solo exhibition in Qingdao, coinciding with Antony Gormley’s showcase at the TAG museum in 2023, stands as a testament to her enduring influence.
A Legacy of Firsts
A pioneer in breaking barriers, Myonghi showcased her solo exhibition at Centre Georges Pompidou in 1986 and contributed to the World Expo in Daejeon, South Korea, in 1993. Her visionary spirit continues to shape the artistic landscape.
For more information, please visit: https://www.villepinart.com
"Tokyo International Film Festival 2023 & Prime Video Unveil 'Talk To Me' Finalist by Jimmy Ming Shum"
"Talk To Me" explores the profound theme of loneliness and its impact on the human experience, especially in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. Due to his experience living in this vibrant city, Jimmy Ming Shum was inspired to portray the feeling of isolation that can be felt in a densely populated city.
The 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and Amazon Prime Video are thrilled to announce the finalists for the highly anticipated Amazon Prime Video Take One Award. Among the remarkable entries in the "Short Film" category, Jimmy Ming Shum's "Talk To Me" has been selected as a finalist. The award will be presented to the winner at the TIFF Awards Ceremony on October 28th, 2023. Jury members will select the winner based on the film's quality and its creative vision.
"Talk To Me" explores the profound theme of loneliness and its impact on the human experience, especially in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. Due to his experience living in this vibrant city, Jimmy Ming Shum was inspired to portray the feeling of isolation that can be felt in a densely populated city.
As Fumi navigates through empty shops, desolate streets, and disconnected phone calls while yearning for genuine human connections, she grapples with the pervasive sense of loneliness. Through Fumi's character, audiences are invited to explore themes of aging, loss, and the fundamental human desire for companionship.
Short longlines summaries the narrative: "Fumi lives alone in a big city, longing for connection. The film was shot during the challenging times of the pandemic lockdown, adding a layer of depth and relevance to the story. When a sad stranger calls, their worlds are shifted.”
Behind the scenes : Jimmy Ming Shum's compelling short film "Talk To Me" portrays a narrative of profound solitude against Tokyo's dynamism. In a bustling cityscape, Fumi navigating empty streets and hollow phone calls, reflects a poignant longing for genuine connection amidst the isolating experience. Filmed during the pandemic lockdown, the film resonates with a unique depth, intensifying its relevance. Director Jimmy delves expertly into the intricacies of the human psyche, leaving a lasting emotional impression. His use of light and shadow, soundscape and visuals, creates a compelling drama that is both timeless and timely. The powerful message of the film resonates with audiences, reminding us of the fragility of human connection and the importance of meaningful communication.
About Jimmy Ming Shum:
A multi-talented artist hailing from Hong Kong and now living in Tokyo, Jimmy Ming Shum is a director, writer, and producer with an American college degree in photography and filmmaking. In the Asian creative scene, Jimmy's ability to integrate cultural heritage and contemporary themes distinguishes him from other artists.
Film director Jimmy brings a fresh perspective to his work, showcasing his storytelling skills and delivering cinematic excellence. In 2023, his directorial debut garnered critical acclaim, firmly establishing him as a rising talent. Dedicated to pushing the limits of the art form, Jimmy is a visionary filmmaker.
In addition to his prowess as a film director, Jimmy is renowned for his striking and visually stunning photography. This spans the fashion, commercial, and art realms. His work has graced prestigious publications and exhibitions throughout Asia and been commissioned by international brands, reflecting his artistic vision.
Jimmy's passion for his craft and dedication to storytelling have propelled him to the forefront of the Asian creative community. His unique voice and creative vision make him a true standout, inspiring and captivating audiences worldwide with his work.
For more information on "Talk To Me" in Amazon Prime Video Take One Award finalists, visit the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival website.
MARIE DE VILLEPIN: MURMURATION
Murmuration, the debut solo exhibition of Marie de Villepin in Hong Kong, opening on November 17th, 2022.Through her art we are entering in the enchanted world of fierce gestures and roaring sound created by ballet birds in the sky. Marie captures the grace and energy of such moments through colors, shapes and rhythm.
Villepin is pleased to present Murmuration, the debut exhibition of Marie de Villepin in Hong Kong, marking her first major solo exhibition in Asia. The title Murmuration originally describes the enchanting gesture and roaring sound created by ballet birds in the sky in certain seasons. In a similar movement to these birds, Marie captures the energy of various worlds where her multifaceted practice has long experimented with intrinsic expressions through colours, shapes, and rhythm.
For Marie, the canvas is not so much a conventional painting material as an all-receptive medium, a tabula rasa, on which she lays down her diverse ideas and personal experiences, expressed more often by the harmony of colours than by any preordained meaning of figures. After spending much of her life abroad, moving from one culture to another, Marie began sketching, not only to capture the colour or emotion of a moment, but also to ward off the dizziness of frantic change in the passing of life and time.
Her paintings are expansive configurations of spatial experimentations that articulate abstraction as an ever-shifting field. She draws upon ideas from different states and times to explore the spatial relation of each form and the space in between. Shifting and unraveling layers of paint, each figure and shape appear and recede in a multiplicity of directions, drawing viewers among unknown territories and experiences.
In her works, music plays a key role generating a certain rhythm of swaths of brushstrokes that diverge and converge. Where does it begin? Where does it lead us to? Marie’s works explore the importance of mobility and memory, and the relentless changes in forms, where identities, communities, and technologies in this postmodern world can at once be aggressive, oppressive, and repulsive. Through her works, she questions the key issues of our time and introduces new paths through her imagination with its own words and music, in which motifs are repeated, rhythms impart textures, and sounds alternate with voids, stringing together chords and sublimating emotions.
Today, there is a general tendency to follow a certain opinion or a predesigned algorithm, to swarm in the same direction of a multitude. In a constantly overstimulated world of configurations of layers, the urge to find order, meaning and perhaps beauty, within chaotic conditions becomes more palpable. Marie’s works reintroduce us to a new path of discovery through a deep amalgamation of formal aesthetics that encompass her travels and experiences, one that is deeply allegorical and personal.
In the spirit of "Murmuration," the exhibition will adopt an evolutive nature, beginning with Marie’s works and gradually evolving to take its own shape. In addition to paintings and drawings, personal stories and inspirations from art, music, film, and photography that influenced her creative practice, will also transform the exhibition, transporting viewers onto a temporal visual as well as auditory voyage.
Exhibition Opening: 17 November 2022 - March 2023
Space: 53-55 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
(By Appointment only)
About the Artist
Born in 1986 in Washington, D.C., Marie de Villepin grew up in the United States and in India. Art was a constant feature in her upbringing as she began developing her musical and drawing skills throughout her frequent travels, filling dozens of notebooks, which allowed her to fix moments and emotions as a chronicle of her life. Growing up in a diplomatic household, Marie had the chance to surround herself with a prominent circle of poets, musicians, filmmakers, and painters including Zao Wou-Ki, a family friend. She was inspired by influential post-war American artists, including Willem de Kooning, Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, and Philip Guston. In particular, she admired the musicality, freedom, and capacity for transcendence in their works.
In 2005, Marie moved to New York, and then to Los Angeles, where she developed various musical projects, before devoting herself entirely to painting. In search to deepen links between colours, sounds and rhythm, she took a decisive step to transcribe her inner world onto canvas: painting what she sees and where she lived in a way perhaps to ward off exile, loneliness and doubts through an accumulation of brushstrokes. Gradually, her whole world started taking shape, complete with imaginary landscapes, creatures, and machines of all sorts. Her works trace through space and time, oscillating between figuration and abstraction.
Marie has participated in a number of group exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Hong Kong. In 2019 she presented her first solo exhibition titled New Creatures, which marked her return to Paris. In March of 2022 after the pandemic, she presented The Lost Weekend a combination of works made in the United States and in France. In June, Marie was selected as one of the twelve artists to receive Le Prix Antoine Marin. The prize is presented by the gallery Julio Gonzalez in Paris, where each young artist is nominated by a renowned artist: Marie was nominated by Anselm Kiefer. She is currently working on a major institutional exhibition scheduled for 2023 at a museum in China.