Roppongi Art Night Executive Committee Chairman Fumio Nanjo (Director, Mori Art Museum)
Roppongi Art Night season has arrived. Launched in 2009 and conceived as Tokyo’s premiere art festival, this event makes the entire town of Roppongi into a canvas, painted with a rich diversity of art.
Last winter, we were busy with preparations for third holding of Roppongi Art Night, but only few weeks before the opening, disaster struck. On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the Tohoku region. In consideration of the electrical power issues, the continuing aftershocks and, above all, the thousands of victims, it was decided to cancel the event.
One year has passed since that tragedy, and during that time, we have thought long and hard about what we could do and what art could do to encourage the people of the affected area and give them hope. After extensive discussions and exchanges of view with many, many people, we chose “Art: Giving Genki back to Japan” as the theme for the third holding of Roppongi Art Night in 2012.
This year we will exhibit many artworks that could not be displayed one year ago and have waited patiently for this day to come. In addition, visitors will see art projects that address the tragic Great East Japan Earthquake. The main event venue will showcase a new large-scale balloon work by the celebrated artist Yayoi Kusama and introduce artworks by multiple artists that focus on disaster-stricken Tohoku region and its people as part of the earthquake disaster-related program. It is the hope of all involved in this event to inject Japan with renewed vitality through art. It would give me the greatest pleasure if Roppongi Art Night 2012 sends an uplifting message to the people of the Tohoku Region and serves as an opportunity to think about a new vision for Japan. Together let’s open the door to Japan’s future through art.
Fumio Nanjo
Chairman, Roppongi Art Night Committee
17 December 2011
