GEISAI #11
Back to Archive List
Sunday, September 14, 2008
New talents emerge at largest-ever, best attended edition of art fair for artists presented by Kaikai Kiki studios
ART COLLECTORS & CULTURE CONSUMERS CONVERGE ON GEISAI #11
AT TOKYO BIG SIGHT
TOKYO, October 1, 2008 – GEISAI #11, the artist-run art fair Kaikai Kiki Studios led by Takashi Murakami concluded its largest edition ever held with unprecedented numbers of exhibitors, visitors, and attention from the art world and general culture consuming public. Visitors perused the works of the more than 1,200 artists over one day in West Halls One and Two of Tokyo Big Sight. The artists sold a range of artworks in media that included paintings, videos, apparel, house wares, publications, and sculptures directly to a crowd of 12,000 contemporary art enthusiasts.
Among the many notable visitors were Miami-based collectors Donald and Mera Rubell, major Korean collector and gallerist C.I. Kim, and a slew of international art dealers including Maya Hoffman, David Maupin, of New York's Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Glenn Scott Wright of London's Victoria Miro Gallery. Many collectors seized on the opportunity to purchase works directly from artists, including C.I. Kim who purchased a large acrylic and mixed-media diptych from Japanese painter Takashi Fugawa, and Singapore Tyler Print Institute Deputy Director Emi Eu, who purchased multiple works from painter/sculptor Yamazaki Ryoichi. Even juror Phillipe Ségalot couldn't resist the opportunity to purchase three paintings from David Leroi, a veteran of December 2007's GEISAI Miami who made the 7,500 mile trip from Miami to try his luck in Japan.
A jury made up of art world professionals Jack Bankowsky, Alison Gingeras, Carol Yinghua Lu, Phillipe Ségalot, and Marc-Olivier Wahler examined the works of each artist over the course of the eight-hour fair, which concluded with a spectacular pyrotechnic, confetti-filled award ceremony that brought many artists to tears and a sense of newfound recognition to the following exhibitors:
Top Three Award Winners
Gold Award: Kyoko Nakamura
Silver Award: unit.maker
Bronze Award: Keita Sugiura
Juror's Personal Award Winners
Jack Bankowsky: Nobusuke Shimizu
Alison Gingeras: Hey! Sey! Captains
Carol Yinghua Lu: Crazy Hat & Long Ear
Philippe Ségalot: Kyoko Nakamura
Marc-Olivier Wahler: Ayako Miwa
GEISAI #11 featured an unprecedented program of live performances that both celebrated Japanese subculture and blurred the lines of high and low arts, as visitors thronged to the fair's main stage to watch performances including Taiwanese superstar Ken Chu and AKB48, of Tokyo's Akihabara district, the hub of the Otaku subculture. Upstairs, in the "School Festival Executive Committee", a series of cafés, performances and exhibitions presented subcultures varying from maids to samurais, soldiers and Itasha cars meticulously decorated with characters from anime fandom.
About GEISAI
Since its inception in 2001 in Japan, GEISAI has traditionally been held twice a year in Tokyo, and made its debut in Miami in December 2007. By presenting a new art-collecting concept, allowing artists to exhibit their work directly, without a commercial gallery, to an audience of collectors, curators and art enthusiasts, GEISAI has established itself as an exceptional art fair platform. The name "GEISAI" is derived from the Japanese word for "art festival." Such festivals would typically take place within a university or an art school.
WHAT DOES GEISAI MEAN?
"GEISAI" was first organized in Japan in the summer of 2001, and since then has been held bi-annually. The name "GEISAI" is derived from the Japanese word for "art festival." Such festivals would typically take place within a university or art school.
CONTACT