Roppongi Art Night 2018
Programs held at the National Art Center, Tokyo

Designed by textile designer Reiko Sudo, this exhibition has some 300 koinobori (carp streamers) vigorously swimming around the gallery. This large-scale display has been realized through collaboration with French exhibition designer Adrien Gardère and Seiichi Saito, a noted member of Rhizomatiks.

The collaboration between Reiko Sudo, one of Japan’s preeminent textile designers, and French exhibition designer Adrien Gardère, created this large-scale exhibition. For this dynamic show they also joined forces with Seiichi Saito, of the Rhizomatiks, and the sound design was created by softpad. On the occasion of the Roppongi Art Night only, Softpad will provide live performances in the gallery, adding a special atmosphere to the exhibition.

As a special program for the Roppongi Art Night 2018, tours introducing the features of the striking NACT building and outlining the various activities will be on offer. Tours of the iconic NACT building, designed by the architect Kisho Kurokawa & NIHON SEKKEI, INC., will be conducted by experts from NIHON SEKKEI, INC. and provide insight into the building’s unique features.

A showcase of Japanese animation. A total of 12 short works from young animation film creators' new and recent works will be screened. Do not miss this opportunity!

●The 114th Taiheiyo Art Exhibition

●The Japanese New Art - Craft Exhibition

●Sanki Art Exhibition

●Music Concert (Shakuhachi and Shamisen’s ensemble)
“The heart of Japan” – entrusting the thoughts of my hometown to sound – Shakuhachi: Kandō Chikuzen; Shamisen: Baiseizan Katō, Jun Takahashi

The classical Japanese instruments the Shakuhachi and Shamisen pull at the hearts of Japanese people. Their sound and woven melodies evoke feelings of hardship, joy and healing, and memories of home. The tones produced by these classical instruments are nostalgic, warm and sad. Thoughts and feelings will be played with the Shakuhachi and Shamisen. The musician Chikuzen has been mastering the Shakuhachi’s sound for more than 40 years. This concert also took place in the U.S.A., and in every it deeply moved the audience’s heart. Encouraged by artistic efforts and with the belief that “Every moment that I am alive is on stage”, this “heart of Japan” was pieced together and is being greeted by great reactions.

A colorful textile waterfall, hanging colors accentuates the glass façade designed by Kisho Kurokawa. Tinted dreams are projected inside the building when natural light shines though the fabric during the daytime. The dreams remaining inside the building then burst out into the city as light at night.
In broken flowers, 5,000 hand mirrors cover the space in front of the main entrance of The National Art Center, Tokyo, onto which images of flowers are projected. These beautiful floral visuals simultaneously become a hollow dream and illusion.

What is humanity? What is Art? Isn’t the strength of Art its ability to transcend nationality, gender, and all of the differences that we’ve inherited? I believe that coexistence begins when we are kind enough to grow close to one another while knowing each other’s differences. In this world we inhabit together, I aim to show the greatness of coexistence through art, in the hopes that this will continue beyond this one night, much like Japan’s history of peace. What do you think? What is Art to you? What do you think is essential to coexist?