The beauty of art is its power to inspire -- to engage viewers with thought-provoking themes that can widen their worldview. Like Ai Weiwei, Jenny Holzer and Sebastien Preschoux, the conceptual art duo Ken and Julia Yonetani spark vigorous dialogue through sociopolitical content. Engaging and beautiful, their installations bravely take on issues threatening our natural environment. more...
Masato Otaka and his Philosophy of PAU
James Lambiasi
Many can say they are familiar with the Metabolism movement in Japanese architectural history. Important architects like Kenzo Tange and Kiyonori Kikutake come to mind, or the iconic image of Kisho Kurokawa's Nakagin Capsule Tower. Of the seven original Metabolists who introduced their philosophy at the 1960 World Design Conference in Tokyo, however, we are less familiar with architect Masato Otaka (1923-2010). more...
The Roppongi Vortex: Contemporary Art Galleries Reunite in Complex665
Alan Gleason
For several years, a number of Tokyo's most intrepid and successful contemporary art galleries have led a nomadic existence, moving -- sometimes as lone wolves, sometimes in packs -- from one converted warehouse to another. Most of these no-frills spaces have been situated in the low-rent industrial zone along the Sumida River, east of Ginza. more...
