Selection Committee/Mentor

Support centered on advice during
selection and interim report meetings

Anna Ueda

Curator, Artizon Museum,
Ishibashi Foundation

Biography

B.A. in Art History, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. M.A. in Curatorial and Museum Studies at The University of Adelaide, Australia. Current position since 2019 after an internship at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Specializes in First Nations art from Australia. Recent texts include “On Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s Spring Landscape and Untitled: Success and Achievements of a Female Aboriginal Artist in Social Context (Artizon Museum bulletin, 2022)”

Thoughts on TAAP

As the internationalization of art networks continues to develop, there will be even more demand for opportunities for artists to talk about their works. TAAP is a valuable artist support program that is focused on such demand. I hope that TAAP will not only improve the presentation skills of the participating artists, but also enrich their artistic practices.
Ryudai Takano

Photographer/
Professor, Tokyo Zokei University

Biograhy

B.A. in Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. Received the 31st Kimura Ihei Award in 2006 for “In My Room (2005)”. Held a solo exhibition “Daily Photographs 1999-2021” at The National Museum of Art, Osaka, in 2021. Received The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize (Art Division) and the 38th Higashikawa Award (The Domestic Photographer Award) in 2022.

Thoughts on TAAP

Intelligence, reason, sensitivity, and desire. I’ll be waiting for something deep and certain even if it’s tiny.
Miwa Taguchi

Co-Founder,Taguchi Art Collection/
Member of International Advisory Board,
Bienal de São Paulo

Biography

After working in field practice and teaching related to social welfare studies, she has taken the management of the contemporary art collection started by her father, Hiroshi Taguchi, the founder of the MISUMI Group; and has traveled to art festivals and art fairs around the world to expand the collection. Also held multiple exhibitions of the collection at art museums around the world. Established Taguchi Foundation for Contemporary Art in 2020 to further the public benefit of the collection. Also an Ambassador for the art platform “South South”, a Senior Advisor for Startburn,Inc., and a member of the Tokyo Gendai Advisory Board.

Thoughts on TAAP

It is a tough world where only a few artists can make it on the world stage. The quickest way is to get as many objective opinions about your activities as possible and think about them. TAAP is designed to help artists to gain the basic skills necessary to be active on such stage. I’m looking forward to your application.
Masako Hosoi

Gallery Director, TARO NASU

Biography

D. program in the Department of Art History, Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo, Japan. Has worked as a contract curator in charge of education and dissemination at public museums in Tokyo, and has also taught as a part-time lecturer at Musashino Art University, Tokyo Zokei University, and Seikei University, etc. Joined TARO NASU, a gallery dealing in contemporary art, in 2005. Also serves as Executive Director of Art & Public Co., Ltd., which handles exhibitions such as the Okayama Art Exchange.

Thoughts on TAAP

Artists’ ability to communicate is required in a variety of situations in both Japan and abroad, and this has a great impact on their career development; however, I personally am attracted to those who have the ability to pursue their own expressions in more essential and continuous manner without being influenced by the current trends. I’m hoping to provide “technical” support to help such artists to describe the world of their works in their own words.
Eiichi Yamaguchi

Representative Director
Art Powers Japan Association/
Chairperson, Japan Association
of Corporate Executives,
Sports-and-Art-Driven Community
Revitalization Committee

Biography

Executive Officer and General Manager of Corporate Center, General Manager of Osaka Branch in charge of West Japan Region, General Representative of China Region and General Manager of Beijing Branch at Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. Appointed as President, and Representative Director of AGP Corporation in 2013. Also a member of the Taxation Working Group of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and a member of the Cultural Economy Subcommittee, Cultural Affairs Council of the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Thoughts on TAAP

I’ve been working on the industrialization of art from the standpoint of the economic community, and I anticipate that the TAAP program will be a great opportunity for Japanese artists to reach out into the world. I will make every effort to create a system that enables companies to support and collaborate.

Mentors

Support primarily through mentoring programs

Taro Amano

Chief Curator, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery

Biography

Current position since 2022 after working at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, the Yokohama Museum of Art since 1987, and Yokohama Civic Art Gallery Azamino since 2015. Involved in the planning of numerous exhibitions in Japan and abroad. Recent exhibition projects include “Mao Ishikawa- What Can I Do? (2023 Oct – Dec)”. A part-time lecturer at Showa Women’s University and others. A member of International Association of Art Critics Japanese Section.

Encouragement for Young Artists

Since the modern era, art has been secularized as a commodity to be bought and sold in the market. Today, the art market is booming, and it is an urgent matter how artists should respond to the recipients such as buyers. In this situation, I would like to reexamine with you how to guarantee the expression and the choice of materials.
Daisuke Awata

Art Critic

Biography

Specializes in Art Studies (Art Theories). Recent texts include “Loving the Symptoms (Bijutsu Techo, Oct 2022)”. Member of the editorial board of “Yusuke Nakahara Art Critics Selection Collection (12 volumes, Published by Gendai Kikakushitsu + BankART Publishing, 2021-)”. Also a member of the Oral History Archives of Japanese Art. Associate professor at Joshibi University of Art and Design.

Encouragement for Young Artists

Contemporary art has the power to question social conventions and norms and change people’s consciousness. Art and the economy are no exception to this principle. Let’s think together about the possibilities of “not staying” in the art market.
Kyoko Ebata

Artist

Biography

Graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London. Ebata organizes an independent project space “House of Ebata” in Kunitachi City, providing artists and curators a space and time for open and unconstrained experiments. In her works, she turns her gaze from herself to her family, to society and history, but ultimately expresses herself with humor from an individual’s physical perspective in a way that anyone can try.

Encouragement for Young Artists

Every day we are heartbroken by the news of war, but war and violence have been going on for a long time, and whether we are aware of it or not, we are all involved in some ways. In this context, I think that cultural activities are very important for preserving human dignity. So I hope that every artist will find the presentation method that suits them best and create even better works. This will lead to more people getting involved in the arts and improve the quality of culture itself.
Mahiko Kobayashi

Director, biscuit gallery

Biography

In the gallery business, which mainly deals with young contemporary artists, he is involved in various activities including exhibitions in Japan and abroad, art related projects with companies, consulting, management of young artists, as well as an art collector and art writer.

Encouragement for Young Artists

I would like to work with artists who are not limited to domestic activities only, but have a global perspective, and I am striving to be a part of their growth opportunities. I would be pleased to support you in bringing out the best of your passion and talent.
Yukiko Fujimoto

Representative Director,
Bookend Publishing Co., Ltd./
Director, Nonprofit Organization
Art & Society Research Center

Biography

As an editor specialized in fine art, she has worked on numerous art books including “Why Is This Art? (A. Arenas)”. Received the 2008 Western Art Foundation Prize for co-publishing with museums and promotion of interactive viewings. Current position since 2010. Publishing art books such as “Mark Rothko: A Biography”, and “Treasures of the Tokyo National Museum”, as well as environmental magazine “BIOCITY”. Also a board member of a NPO that connects artists’ activities with society and people, and promotes their diverse roles.

Encouragement for Young Artists

These days, communication via smartphones has become the mainstream, and the use of short, casual sentences is on the rise. In presentations, the use of words can affect the evaluation of your work. Let’s polish not your communication skills but your “writing skills”.