In the northern part of Okayama Prefecture, an international art festival titled “Forest Art Festival in Okayama, Land of Sunshine” will be held from September 28th (Saturday) to November 24th (Sunday). The additional artists and their venue pairings have been finalized for this event.
Curated by art director Yuko Hasegawa, an art critic and the director of Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, this festival marks its debut. It features a diverse array of artists from around the world, including contemporary artists, photographers, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, architects, designers, ikebana masters, and chefs.
Newly added artists include local lacquer artist Moe Kato from Niimi City, ceramic artist Chiharu Koda from Mimasaka City, as well as international participants Lucila Gradin and Michael Lin. Together with previously announced artists, a total of 39 groups from 13 countries will participate.
The exhibition areas are divided into six locations: around Tsuyama Castle (Tsuyama City), Green Hills Tsuyama (Tsuyama City), around Nagi Town Contemporary Art Museum (Nagi Town), Maki Cave and Ikura Cave (Niimi City), Hiyama (Maniwa City), and Okutsu (Kagamino Town). The combinations of artists and venues for each area have also been announced. At Nagi Town Contemporary Art Museum, works by Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani and Shigeru Isozaki will be exhibited, and in the same area’s Symbol Road, Mirai Moriyama will participate, while Leandro Erlich will exhibit at Spa NAGI in the same area. At Maki Cave, a natural monument of Okayama Prefecture with a total length of about 450 meters, exhibits by Mika Ninagawa will be featured, and at GREENable HIRUZEN in the Hiyama area, Rinko Kawauchi and others will exhibit.
On September 1st (Sunday), a pre-event featuring a special exhibition by Mika Ninagawa has also been confirmed. Held at Sakushu Minzoku Museum in Tsuyama City, built in Meiji 42 (1909), the event allows visitors to experience the atmosphere of the art festival ahead of time.
Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama: Clear-skies Country
Dates: September 28, 2024 (Saturday) – November 24, 2024 (Sunday)
Venue: 12 cities and towns in Okayama Prefecture (Tsuyama City, Takahashi City, Niimi City, Maniwa City, Mimasaka City, Shinjo Village, Kagamino Town, Katsuo Town, Nagi Town, Nishiawakura Village, Kumenan Town, Misaki Town)
Exhibition Areas:
- Tsuyama: Tsuyama Castle Area, Green Hills Tsuyama Area
- Nagi: Around Nagi Town Contemporary Art Museum
- Niimi: Maki Cave and Ikura Cave Area
- Maniwa: Hiyama Area
- Kagamino: Okutsu Area
- Art Director: Yuko Hasegawa (Curator, Art Critic, Director of Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art)
- Organizer: Forest Art Festival in Okayama Executive Committee (Chairman: Ryuta Iharaki, Governor of Okayama Prefecture)
- Website: https://forestartfest-okayama.jp
Participating Artists:
- International: 18 artists / Domestic: 22 artists (5 from Okayama) / 39 groups / 40 artists from 13 countries
International Artists:
- Including Leandro Erlich (Argentina), Henri Sala (Albania/France), Kim Su-Ja (South Korea), Lucila Gradin (Argentina), Michael Lin (Taiwan/Belgium), and more.
Domestic Artists:
- Including Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani, Mirai Moriyama, Rinko Kawauchi, Mika Ninagawa, Kazuyo Sejima, and more.
Local Artists:
- Including Saburo Ota, Keiwa Sugihara, Masanori Emi, Moe Kato, Chihiro Koda, and more.
Tickets:
General, University and vocational school students: ¥700
Admission Passport:
General: ¥2,500 (advance) / ¥3,000 (at the door)
University and vocational school students: ¥1,500 (advance) / ¥2,000 (at the door)
Single Venue Ticket:
