Country of Dreams: Art Festival as Social Change
6:30 – 8:30PM
Abandoned buildings repurposed as surreal dream houses, a million tulip petals falling from the sky: every three years the remote snow country of Echigo-Tsumari is transformed into a spellbinding art festival. Conceived as a way of revitalizing a depopulated region, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is not only one of the world’s largest art festivals, it is a powerful force for social change. In collaboration with the local community, the bucolic landscape is turned into a multi-media exhibit space, drawing in artists and admirers from around the world. Come hear from participating artists Marina Abramović, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Ilya & Emilia Kabakov.Triennale creator and General Director Fram Kitagawa delivers a video message from Japan, Asian art specialist Midori Yamamura joins the discussion, and Japan Society Gallery Director Yukie Kamiya moderates. Co-organized by Midori Yamamura.