Japan, who has developed its own unique long history, has excellent values of beauty and great technology. At the same time, art is always connected to the world. From a wide range of perspectives, we will delve deeply into Japanese art, which has evolved while being stimulated both domestically and internationally, as well as the art market that has nurtured it.
Tomio Koyama ：An Overview of the Art Scene in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Japan
Tomio Koyama is someone at the frontline of the Japanese art scene and whose involvement with the art market goes back many years. His career has coincided with the growth not only of the market in Japan but the global market as a whole. We spoke to him about his take on the major shifts he has witnessed in his time, especially the development of art fairs and the expansion of the market in Asia.
Maho Kubota: Galleries and Artists, Strategically Looking to the Future
“I simply choose the work I want to represent or the artists I like,” says MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY owner Maho Kubota. “This intuitive sense of liking the work or artist is important, though there has to be something else too. There’s the originality of the artist’s work and its sustainability. And then there’s the strength of the resulting work.” Kubota spoke with Art Fair Tokyo about her relationship with artists and her gallery’s aims.
YUMEKOUBOU: Seeking Ways to Increase the Value of Artists
YUMEKOUBOU made its debut at Art Fair Tokyo in 2021 with a stunning installation of bamboo artist Tanabe Chiku’unsai IV’s work that became a word-of-mouth sensation. Alongside handling antiques by the first three generations of Tanabe Chiku’unsai, the gallery is the primary dealer for the current generation’s contemporary art. We spoke with the gallery owner Ken’ichi Kiyama and director Akira Nakajima about the core approach that runs through all YUMEKOUBOU’s activities.