The Nissan Art Award is a biennial award presented to the emerging generation of Japanese artists to further their careers, enhance their presence in the international art world and create a social environment where people familiarize themselves with art. The award is intended to celebrate new developments in Japanese contemporary art and help provoke debate about visual art by promoting creative emerging artists. Through a prolonged commitment, the award can contribute towards outlining a history of Japanese contemporary art and artists, focusing particularly on their activities in the past two years. As a continuation of the award, Nissan Motor Corporation also adds the works of art to its collection for exhibiting internally and externally with the aim of providing a point of reference on Japanese contemporary art in the international art scene.

Not only the Grand Prix winners, for all of the previous two editions’ finalists the award has served as a steppingstone to appearances at major art festivals, exhibitions and fairs around the world as well as influential art publications. For example, one of the 2015 finalists, Takahiro Iwasaki, was selected to represent Japan at this May’s Venice Biennale, known as the Olympic Games of contemporary art.

Nissan Art Award 2017 Facts

Organized and Sponsored by

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Directed, Coordinated and Exhibition Curated by

Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]

In association with

International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP)

Exhibition Overview

Title

NISSAN ART AWARD 2017: Exhibition of New works by Five Finalists

Exhibition Period

Saturday, September 16 – Sunday, November 5, 2017
Closed: Every second and fourth Thursday (Sep. 28/ Oct. 12, 26).
The exhibition will be closed to the public on September 27 (Wed) for the event.

Venue

BankART Studio NYK 2F, 3-9 Kaigan Dori, Naka-ku, Yokohama

Exhibition Support by

BankART1929, Light and Licht Ltd., PAP-design / Kanpis LLC

Associate support by

City of Yokohama

Artist Nominations and First Selection

At the end of December 2016, a panel of ten nominators each selected three candidate artists.
Comprising curators, researchers and members of non-profit art organizations, the varied panel members have followed the careers of Japanese artists in a global context.
Thereafter, from among the twenty five candidates, five finalists were chosen in the first selection round at the beginning of May in New York, USA by five globally renowned jury members. All candidates must be Japanese passport-holders.

Production and Exhibition of New Works

The five finalists will each receive prize money of one million JPY as well as a further one million JPY to pay for the production of new works of art, which are included in an exhibition of the finalists’ work in September 2017.

Final Selection and Award Ceremony

The jury selects the Grand Prix winner based on the exhibition. An Audience Award will be given based on votes from the public. All winners will be announced at the invitation-only award ceremony and reception on September 27.

Prizes

Finalists: 1 million yen
Grand Prix: A total value of 5 million yen (finalist prize money and an additional 2 million yen, as well as 3 months of overseas residency program at ISCP with expert counseling and subsidy for travel, living and research costs), plus a trophy

Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
Twin Bldg. Daikanyama B-403, 30-8 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033 Japan
TEL:+81 (0)3-6277-5561 / FAX:+81 (0)3-3780-0266
E-mail:naa@a-i-t.net

About Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
AIT was begun in 2001, with the idea that Tokyo lacked spaces in which to think about, learn and discuss art at the time. We aim to create a new alternative platform where artists, curators, critics, collectors, students, and a larger audience can access contemporary art through a range of programs and events in Tokyo and beyond.
www.a-i-t.net 

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