Japan Contemporaries Series 10 | Juried Open Call | STEPPING INTO A WORLD IV

Curated by Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato
Organized by Art Incubation Association of Japan

Gallery Max New York
552 Broadway, New York、NY 10012 |(212) 925-7017
November 7-13, 2024, 12-6pm | Closed on Nov 10, 11
Reception and Performance : Friday, November 8, 2024, 6-8pm

Artists:
[Grand Prize] JAM UNDERSON

[First Runner-Up] Akiyo Ochiai | KYOKO HIROSE | Miho Inagaki

[Second Runner-Up] Daigo Miyata（Panda Rocket Gallery) | daisaku kikuchi | Eri Saito | freek369 | HIROMI KIM | inuyama | Itsuka Masuda | keiko | KeyDesigner Satoko | KUMIKO SASAKI | MAMI OZAKI | RAYCO KONDO | Riko Sakurai | SACHIYO SAKAKIBARA | SHIGEAKI HAYASHI | SKIT | TOMOKA HAYASHI | YASU HORIGUCHI | Yoshiya

[Honorable Mention] ASAMI | Fujikura Soshi | HIDECHIKA AKASHI | Kyon | Matoka | MINORI | Miyavi | Seiko Imai | toqart | Valshia

[Guests | NY Front Runners ] Alexis Duque | Anisuzzaman | Camille Eskell | Eva Petrič | Hideki Takahashi | Joseph Ayers

The exhibition ‘Stepping Into A World IV’ is the 10th installment of a series of exhibitions organized by Emmy Award-winning TV writer Motoichi Adachi and New York-based curator Kyoko Sato, known for promoting Japanese culture. This exhibition will showcase the works of artists who passed an open call screening. The series features 34 artists, primarily from Japan, who create intriguing works regardless of genre or background, integrating them into the cutting-edge global art scene. Guest exhibitions will also feature frontrunners from New York’s art world, fostering effective exchange and mutual inspiration.

This time, the exhibition will include a new series themed around calligraphy, ‘The Art of Sho’ (Series 11, Tenri Cultural Institute, featuring 19 Japanese artists). Additionally, the most casual installment of Japan Contemporaries (Series 12, Gallery 60NYC, featuring 4 artists) is planned, along with the ‘Well-being Art Exhibition,’ which supports underprivileged children in Southeast Asia. Simultaneously, the ‘100 Artists of the World’ exhibition will be held on a large screen of Times Square (3 Times Square, featuring 14 artists), stirring up a wave of Japanese art in New York this fall.

Up to the ninth installment in July 2024, the series has already introduced 124 Japanese artists. Furthermore, more than nine artists have been taken up by New York galleries after the exhibitions. With the fall installment, an additional 62 artists are scheduled to be introduced, sending many outstanding Japanese artists into the New York art scene.

The judges for the open call were Dr. Les Joynes (Columbia University Research Scholar, Curator), Kenji Tokumitsu (Tagboat CEO), Atsushi Hanada (Ginza Hanada Art), Motoichi Adachi (Emmy Award-winning TV writer), and Kyoko Sato (NY Curator).

“ I approach the art world with the same mindset that I’ve used for many years in the Japanese TV industry. I want to bring a fresh breeze of free-spirited ideas into a world that values long-standing traditions. Even if someone didn’t graduate from a famous art school or isn’t backed by a powerful gallery, a beautiful work is beautiful, and an interesting piece is interesting. I want to see captivating artists make a bold impact on the world stage. This time, I’m taking on that unconventional challenge.“ — Motoichi Adachi

Japan was defeated in World War II, but afterward, many Japanese artists went to New York, dreaming of success on the world stage. Nearly 80 years have passed since the war, and while the art world has changed, this trend remains constant. Many of the artists selected for the Stepping Into A World IV exhibition are experiencing their first time exhibiting in New York, marking a major step forward in their careers.
Through this exhibition, visitors can get a comprehensive view of what contemporary Japanese artists are interested in, how they express themselves, and the techniques they use. Many of these artists will also perform, showcasing their diverse talents.
Historically renowned masters, such as Yasuo Kuniyoshi (who moved to New York in 1910), Yoko Ono (1951), Yayoi Kusama (1957), On Kawara (1965), Ushio Shinohara (1969), Hiroshi Senju (1993), Takashi Murakami (2001), and, more recently, Tomokazu Matsuyama (2002), all had their first exhibitions in New York. It’s hard not to hope that some of the artists in this exhibition will go on to become globally renowned like these figures.
When artists come to New York and start living here, their artistic styles evolve constantly. The international guest artists also reflect their diverse cultural backgrounds, such as Alexis Duque (Colombia), Anisuzzaman (Bangladesh), Camille Eskell (the first genearation in the US with Jewish family from Iraq, immigrated to India), Eva Petrič (Slovenia), Joseph Ayers (the US) and Hideki Takahashi(Japan). Each of them draws from the culture of their homeland in their creative process, which can be felt in their work.
— Kyoko Sato

[Grand Prize] JAM UNDERSON

After graduating from a fashion school, Jam Underson joined COMME des GARÇONS Co., Ltd. After leaving the company, she worked in an interior shop, overseeing store management, furniture design, and apparel design. Later, she launched her own apparel brand, which was carried by major select shops and department stores such as Barneys New York and Isetan. She won the grand prize in a contest and exhibited her fashion brand in Paris. In February 2024, she began creating art, and by June of the same year, she had signed with a gallery in Madrid, Spain. Starting in May 2025, they are scheduled to participate in international exhibitions and have their work handled in Paris as an artist.