Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2015

"All we want is to see smiles on the faces of the old people." This was the initial inspiration for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, one of the largest contemporary art festivals in the world in terms of geographical extent. Since 2000, the festival has been staged every three years across 760 square kilometers of the Echigo-Tsumari region. Echigo-Tsumari is located at the southern end of Niigata Prefecture including Tokamachi city and Tsunan town, and is a two-hour train journey distance from Tokyo. The Triennale provides an opportunity to present projects and initiatives developed in the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. These projects aim to reveal existing assets of the region using art as a catalyst, rediscover their values, communicate these to the world and find a way to revitalize the region.

The sixth edition of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, staged from 26 July - 13 September 2015, presents approximately 380 artworks, including some 200 existing ones from previous festivals. The idea that "humans are part of nature" is the fundamental concept for the festival's activities and artworks, and its pioneering approach to deepening regional exploration and community building through art has been applauded both within and beyond Japan.

Themes for 2015

Artworks from previous editions have revealed how people in Echigo-Tsumari have cultivated mountainous terrain, created terraced rice fields, changed river flows, and dug tunnels by hand in order to coexist with nature. The sixth festival highlights artworks under the following sub-themes:

Art is how people engage with nature and civilization

Creative approaches and skills, such as making dams and snow-sheds, have been developed by local people over generations to manage human existence within a challenging natural environment. Until now, these have never been regarded as art in conventional terms, however this festival will present them as artworks for the first time. 

The 6th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale highlights artworks representing creative approaches and techniques as well as devices to appreciate those that have been cultivated by people over generations. This constitutes an alternative “art" for the 21th century, going beyond existing definitions of art.

Exchange between the region and the city

Art has become a catalyst for connecting people with people and people to place. Through networks of supporters, volunteers and corporate sponsors built up over many years, the festival provides a platform for exchange between the region and the city, complementing each other.

Special projects and initiatives include:

Nunagawa Campus
A new school, established in the ex Nunakawa Elementary School, where you learn wisdoms of life based upon agriculture. In cooperation with the Echigo-Tsumari Forest School.

Kiyotsu Warehouse Museum
The ex-Kiyotsukyo Elementary School will re-open as a warehouse and gallery space. It will accommodate large scale artworks that are difficult to store in city. Opening exhibition: Materials and hands featuring four artists.

Kamigo Clove Theatre
In the renovated premises of the ex Kamigo Junior High School, residence and theatre for performing artists.

Kohebi (supporters)
The encounters and collaboration between elderly people from the region and young people from the city have made these young people work as a catalyst to open up the region to strangers.

Performances and events, among others:

Cinema Caravan
Pop-up cinema to enjoy films about local cuisine.
Nakago Green Park

Daichi no Bon
Performers from cities and region perform together on Obon days in the spirit of ancestors.
Matsudai Nohbutai

Snuff Puppets: Giant of Echigo-Tsumari
Large scale outdoor puppets. Collaborative work with local residents.
Matsudai Nohbutai

Yubiwa Hotel: Heavenly Love III
Collaborative theatre performance with local high school students.
Okura Snow Shed

Official website

For practical information, see:
Explore Echigo-Tsumari
Getting there, descriptions of areas, base facilities, recommendations for staying and eating, guided tours, itineraries, etc.

Organizer:
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale Executive Committee
c/o Art Front Gallery
Hillside Terrace A8
29-18 Sarugaku-cho
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033
Japan
Website / Email

Co-organizer:
NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization

Honorary Chairman:
Hirohiko Izumida (Governor of Niigata Prefecture)

Chairman:
Yoshifumi Sekiguchi (Mayor of Tokamachi City)

Vice Chairman:
Kenji Kamimura (Mayor of Tsunan Town)

General Producer:
Soichiro Fukutake (Director, Fukutake Foundation)

General Director:
Fram Kitagawa (Art Director)

Creative Director:
Taku Satoh (Graphic Designer)

Network advisor:
Kohei Takashima (CEO, Oisix Co., ltd.)

Project Directors:
Dragon Museum of Contemporary Art, Cai Guo Qiang (Artist)
Art Project in the center of city, Shohei Yamaguchi (Art Researcher)
Gejo Area, Motoki Sakai (Editor)
Matsudai Nohbutai Gallery, Ren Fukuzumi (Art Critic)
Matsudai History Museum, Shigeya Mori (Buto Dancer)
Kamaboko Art Center, Tsuyoshi Ozawa (Artist)