2024.1.10
Announcement for TERRADA ART AWARD 2023, Each Jury’s Award for Five Finalists
The finalists’ works are being exhibited in the Finalist Exhibition at Warehouse TERRADA G3-6F from January 10th
Warehouse TERRADA is pleased to announce that in TERRADA ART AWARD 2023, a contemporary art award held by Warehouse TERRADA, each jury's award for five finalists has been decided by Takahiro Kaneshima, Yukie Kamiya, Yuki Terase, Daito Manabe, and Meruro Washida.
The artworks by each finalist are being exhibited in TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Finalist Exhibition held in our event space from January 10th (Wed) to January 28th (Sun), 2024. Since the five finalists were announced in September 2023, they have created diversified artworks, including two- and three-dimensional works, sound, installations, movies, and performances based on each exhibition plan submitted for the final-round screening. At the exhibition venue, G3-6F event space, renovated from a warehouse, visitors can appreciate the artworks created by the five artists, including unreleased new works, all displayed in the same place at the same time.
TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 is a contemporary art award designed to support emerging artists. Although we opened the award entry in November 2022, within two months, we received 1,025 entries from Japan and abroad. To discover artists who can play an active role on the world stage, we have selected the jury with an international perspective and a deep understanding of contemporary art. As a result of the review of portfolios in the first-round screening and the review of exhibition plans in the final-round screening, the five finalists were selected. Each finalist was awarded an opportunity to exhibit their works in TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Finalist Exhibition, as well as Ruinart Blanc de Blancs from MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo K.K., one of the award sponsors, and art supplies worth about 100,000 yen at PIGMENT TOKYO, and two years of free use of our art storage service. We want to foster a society in which artists can thrive. Through TERRADA ART AWARD, we fully support the careers of our finalists—artists with the potential to drive the arts forward into the future—as they venture out into the world, break conventions, and discover their raison d’être.
[About Jury's Award]
Takahiro Kaneshima Award: Yuma Tomiyasu
Artwork by Yuma Tomiyasu, Photo by Yusuke Suzuki (USKfoto)
Tomiyasu’s work dares to challenge the idea of “perspective,” which is a very fundamental principle in art, and has been tackled by many artists in the past. It is an extremely strange and unstable space that is a collage of the work and daily life of a person living in the current era. The artist incorporated the “shift” in perspective into the act of viewing the work, skillfully combined the 2D works with carefully drawn spaces and materials that divide the space, while working in a warehouse, an environment that is difficult to create site-specific works due to its inorganic nature. This work not only shakes up the act of viewing the art and its perspective, but also makes us reconsider what a work really is in the first place. I can’t help but wonder what Tomiyasu will focus and develop in the future. [Takahiro Kaneshima / Associate professor of Kanazawa College of Art]
I am very honored to receive the Takahiro Kaneshima Award. This plan is an updated version of the idea I’ve been wanting to try in a way that matches the inorganic space of Warehouse TERRADA. Although it is a plan that would cost a lot to realize, it was possible with the production funds that were provided as prize money from TERRADA ART AWARD. I’d like to show my gratitude again. While I was happy that the plan went through and I was able to realize it, due to the world situation such as wars and earthquakes coincided during the production period, I had to question myself every day about the meaning of creating art and the meaning of art itself, and it was very difficult for me to create this work. I think these questions will continue to come up in the future, but I want to keep looking and thinking about them. Finally, I would like to once again thank everyone who cooperated with the production, including the jury, the TERRADA ART AWARD staffs, and the production team. [Yuma Tomiyasu]
Yukie Kamiya Award: Yuki Harada
Artwork by Yuki Harada, Photo by Katsura Muramatsu
Yuki Harada has been conducting research on Japanese immigrants in Hawaii for the past years. It can be said that prior to the Lahaina disaster on Maui Island that occurred in the summer of 2023, Harada had already developed the perspectives to take a serious look at the urgent issues of our time, such as global warming, immigration, and refugees. His understanding and expression take a process of listening carefully to the voices of others, encountering local histories and narratives, learning them synthetically, and transmitting them in a new visual language. It seems he is inspired by a Noh method that connects this world and beyond the grave. Transcending time and space and connecting individual existence and society, as well as others and oneself, Harada wove complex and multi-layered elements together through digital technology, overlaying with portraits, narratives, and subtitles on a single screen. Seeing the way that Harada kicks off the quest, I look forward to the next chapter of his further developments. [Yukie Kamiya / Art Critic, Independent Curator]
I am very honored to receive the Yukie Kamiya Award. First of all, I would like to report the award to all the Japanese Americans who shadowed with me on this work- Tyler, Rene, and Larry. The plan of this work has been in my mind for several years, but when I actually started working on it, I realized that I would need the help of more than 70 people to make it a reality. Although there were many difficult moments during the largest scale production I ‘ve ever done, I am proud to have created a “new self-portrait” that reflects the modern times. At the same time, I realized once again that so many people had to be involved in realizing the expression I wanted to create, and I felt a sense of responsibility. I would like to sincerely thank everyone at Warehouse TERRADA and the jury for allowing me to gain the greatest experience to move on to the next stage. Lastly, please let me introduce a “Pidgin English translation” script by Larry, a second-generation Japanese American.
Go stay go Pakiki all da time ! Eh…no give up ‘til you pau !” (Literal translation: I’ll always resist! Ah, I won’t give up until the end!) [Yuki Harada]
Yuki Terase Award: yang02
Artwork by yang02, Photo by Yusuke Suzuki (USKfoto)
There is no trace of manual labor in yang02’s work. Utilizing technology, the work is unmanned and mechanically pre-programmed, and at first glance it seems inorganic, making us imagine a calm and collected science writer. However, the beliefs that underlie each of the works are, without fear of misunderstanding, more naïve, rustic, and extremely human-like than anyone else. Art that is swallowed up by capitalism, art that is consumed, art that is not admired but stored in a warehouse… yang02 uses cynical humor to explore the emptiness of art itself, and the significance, meaning, and intention of doing art. However, even though he creates work with such a theme, he decided to take on the challenge of participating in an art award held by a warehouse company that offers a large prize. I think this exquisite mix of contradictions is the real pleasure of the artist yang02. Everyone is desperately fighting in the line between ideal and reality, so is he, and so I am. By awarding the Yuki Terase Award to this wonderful talent, who is involved in art in a position closest to the art market among the jury, I hope to make him confused even more and make him create even better works. I’m looking forward to it. [Yuki Terase / Art Intelligence Global Founding Partner]
The deadline of the final-round screening plan was the last day of June, and the opening of my solo exhibition was four days away- I was feeling hopeless because nothing was going to be done in time. I remember sitting in the gallery that was being set up, wallowing in the heat, and half-heartedly submitted the plan in just two pages PDFs, trying to at least give it a shape. I was unable to submit satisfactory plans and naturally thought I would be rejected, so I was in disbelief when I was selected as a finalist. In the end, I was blessed with the opportunity to hold such a wonderful exhibition, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved for the cooperation in setting up the exhibition from morning till night everyday. Thank you. As for the prize I received, this work plan approached the context of the art systems, especially museums, warehouses, and the art market, so I originally had the idea that it would be interesting if Ms. Terase, who is in the middle of the market, appreciates it. So, I’m really happy to have won this award, and I think it will serve as a source of inspiration for my future works. [yang02]
Daito Manabe Award: Satoshi Murakami
Artwork by Satoshi Murakami, Photo by Yusuke Suzuki (USKfoto)
I was strongly attracted to the evolving process of Murakami’s work—how it begins with a minor event in the real world, and how it goes through creative hallucination and transforms into a story, and then that story goes through theatrical expression and creative development in virtual space. By adding changes to everyday landscapes in a unique way, Murakami’s work offers new perspectives and discoveries about the familiar world, allowing us to rediscover the beauty and problems of everyday life. I hope he will make the most of this valuable opportunity and continue to create challenging works with free ideas and creative spirits. I’m looking forward to it. [Daito Manabe / Founder of Rhizomatiks, artist, interaction designer, programmer, and DJ]
I would like to thank TERRADA ART AWARD for providing me a wonderful opportunity to create a new piece of work that I had never tried before, Mr. Manabe for choosing me for the award, and most importantly, Mr. Yutaro Murakoso for doing a wonderful job directing it, Mr. Daigo Honma and Mr.Yoshiki Masuda for working by my side during the long term production, and all the 23 people, whom I do not have enough space to mention each person by name unfortunately, who helped make this work possible. Thank you very much. During the production, I had been thinking about what reality is, but in the middle of the unreasonableness of “reality” that makes all of this ridiculous, I feel like it is preventing me from truly rejoicing at this honorable award. Although the current world issues such as situation in Palestine and clumsiness of politicians regarding the Noto Peninsula Earthquake are extremely frustrating, I will continue to simply do what I can to live up to this award. [Satoshi Murakami]
Meruro Washida Award: Mitsuo Kim
Artwork by Mitsuo Kim, Photo by Yusuke Suzuki (USKfoto)
Canoe is the motif Kim has been using for a while. It symbolizes “between” for Kim who’s identity as being between Korean and Japanese. His previous works were real canoes filled with wax, but this time the canoe itself is made of wax, and the plan is for the entire canoe to melt and change its outline. By doing so, the fragility of the canoe becomes even clearer, and the strength of the work is increased. This point was one of the reasons why I had high expectations for his new work. Moreover, the material wax is not only chosen as a material that melts, but also as the material for the 2D works being exhibited together. This integrates the 3D and 2D, and enhances the relationship between the exhibited works. Another reason why I highly praised the composition of Kim’s exhibition. [Meruro Washida / Director of Towada Art Center, Associate professor of Tokyo University of the Arts]
I am honored to receive the Meruro Washida Award. Restoring a junk American canoe and starting to row on the water with my family gave me the opportunity to face my identity. At my solo exhibition in 2021, I presented a work that was made of an actual canoe filled with wax. At the same time, I was also planning a work that would be a canoe made of wax. This concept was quite difficult to realize, and I was hoping to present it within 10 years, however, I was able to create and present it since I was selected as a finalist in TERRADA ART AWARD. I am not yet aware what will change through this work, but I hope that the small ripple will lead to peace and hope. Lastly, given the tight schedule, this work could not have been made by just one person. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my family for supporting me in my daily life, and to Mr. Mugiho Sasaki, Mr. Shoma Fujimura, Ms. Yuiko Yamada, Mr. Taichi Moriyama, Mr. Yusuke Suga, Mr. Akinobu Hadano, Mr. Atsushi Mogi, Artifact, Mr. Tategami Koutarou, Mr. Tatsuya Suzuki, Mr. Naoto Shimura, Ms. Leesaya, and Mr. Takuro Nomura for giving me their wisdom and support. [Mitsuo Kim]
* Please see the following for the finalists’ profile and exhibition details.
https://www.terradaartaward.com/en/finalist
[TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Finalist Exhibition Overview]
Title: TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Finalist Exhibition
Dates: January 10th* (Wed) – January 28th (Sun), 2024
* Open everyday
Venue: Warehouse TERRADA G3-6F (2-6-10 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002)
Open hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission at 5:30 PM)
Entry fee: Free * No reservation required
[TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Overview]
Name: TERRADA ART AWARD 2023
Qualifying Activity: Contemporary Art (including all forms of media such as two-dimensional works like paintings; photography; three-dimensional works (objects); textiles; videos; digital media art; physical expression such as performances, etc.; and sound art or music, etc.)
Prize: 3 million yen awarded to each of five finalists
* Includes fees paid to display the works of finalists at the Finalist Exhibition, as well as fees for creating and displaying new works
Supplementary Prize: Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, PIGMENT TOKYO products worth 100,000 yen, and free use of Warehouse TERRADA’s art storage services for 2 years
Held by: Warehouse TERRADA
Sponsor: Japan Airlines, MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo K.K.
Operation Support: Fujiwara Haneda LLC
Support: Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Operation
[TERRADA ART AWARD 2023 Jury]
Final Jury: Takahiro Kaneshima (Associate professor of Kanazawa College of Art), Yukie Kamiya (Art Critic, Independent Curator), Yuki Terase (Art Intelligence Global Founding Partner), Daito Manabe (Founder of Rhizomatiks, artist, interaction designer, programmer, and DJ), and Meruro Washida (Director of Towada Art Center, Associate professor of Tokyo University of the Arts)
Primary Selection Jury: Ryo Ikeshiro (Artist, musician, researcher, Assistant Professor, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong), Shinji Ohmaki (Artist), Eriko Kimura (Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art), Ryutaro Takahashi (Psychiatrist, Art Collector), Yuu Takehisa (Curator, Artistic Director of Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito), and Reiko Tsubaki (Curator, the Mori Art Museum)
(in Japanese alphabetical order)
[About TERRADA ART AWARD 2025]
The details of TERRADA ART AWARD 2025 will be announced later this year.
[Award Inquiry]
TERRADA ART AWARD Office E MAIL award@terrada.co.jp