ART | The art festival "Sapporo International Art Festival 2014" is held

ART | Ryuichi Sakamoto Appointed Guest Director

Sapporo Hosts First International Art Festival: Sapporo International Art Festival 2014

The Sapporo International Art Festival 2014, an international art festival that will transform Hokkaido and the city of Sapporo into its stage, will be held for 72 days from Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, September 28, 2014. Featuring the world-renowned musician, who has also been actively involved in the art world in recent years,Ryuichi Sakamotoas guest director, contemporary artists active both domestically and internationally will present a variety of exhibitions and projects at various locations throughout Sapporo.

Text by Winsome Li (OPENERS)

Festival Theme: "City and Nature"

With the "region" as host, the festival will focus on Sapporo's history, climate, infrastructure, industry, and lifestyle, including its cuisine. Under the theme "City and Nature," carefully considered by guest director Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Sapporo International Art Festival 2014 will be brought to life. Exhibition spaces will include Sapporo's natural landscapes, cityscapes, parks, historic buildings, underground pedestrian walkways, and museums, with the aim of structuring the entire festival through new ideas and perspectives.

Furthermore, the festival aims to explore the state of nature, cities, economies, and daily life, and to question coexistence with nature by reflecting on Sapporo's urban and environmental issues and its past through art. The program will feature various events, primarily contemporary art, but also including music, performing arts, and media art. Additionally, participants can engage with the region and interact with diverse people through workshops and other activities.

Ryuichi Sakamoto explained his reasons for accepting the role of guest director: "I have a deep affection for Hokkaido and Sapporo. Of course, the food is delicious and the scenery is beautiful, but it's more than that. I feel a strong respect for the indigenous peoples who have preserved their culture here for so long. In many ways, Sapporo exists as a town that most symbolizes Japan's modernity, and from a different perspective, I find it to be a very interesting and compelling place."

Sapporo International Art Festival 2014
Dates | Saturday, July 19 – Sunday, September 28, 2014
Guest Director | Ryuichi Sakamoto
Associate Curators | Shihoko Iida, Sachiko Namba
Participating Artists (Partial List) | Masao Okabe, Shiro Takatani, Aiko Miyagawa, Fuyuka Shindo, Daito Manabe, Yuko Mohri, Fuyuki Yamakawa, and others

Creative City Sapporo International Art Festival Executive Committee, International Art Festival Secretariat
Tel. 011-211-2314
www.sapporo-internationalartfestival.jp/