Roppongi will be the stage for this one night only art extravaganza, Roppongi Art Night 2018, taking place over the course of two days from Saturday, May 26 – Sunday, May 27, 2018. Roppongi Art Night aims to create a model for community development within the Tokyo metropolis, and it has grown to become an arts festival that represents Tokyo.
In tune with this year’s theme “The City Dreams of Art”, the event will showcase three artists who are driving forces within the contemporary art world of Japan: Teppei Kaneuji, Kengo Kito, and UJINO. Roppongi will become the stage for a number of artists, with various art spots scattered throughout the town. In addition to a diverse mix of contemporary art, design, music, film, and performance pieces, there will also be programs for visitors to participate in and experience. On the day of Roppongi Art Night 2018, a number of art museums, galleries, and institutions will hold special programs in conjunction with their current exhibitions or operate with extended hours. Please enjoy yourself as we kick off the summer with a night devoted to art in Roppongi, the city that never sleeps! .
*The 2011 event was cancelled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Teppei Kaneuji (Roppongi Hills)
Teppei Kaneuji《Tower》
Tower sings and dances like a human and conjures up a one-night dream. It brings together various collaborators, including the musicians Oorutaichi and Satoko Shibata, dancer Yasutake Shimaji, actor Izumi Aoyagi, playwright Toshiki Okada, and artist collective contact Gonzo. Experience the mixture of plastic arts and performance created by a hybrid collage sculpture.
-Date and time: Saturday, May 26, 18:00 – Sunday, May 27, 6:00, 11:00-18:00
-Venue: Roppongi Hills Arena
-Admission: Free
Kengo Kito (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
Kengo Kito《hanging colors》,《broken flowers》
A colorful textile waterfall, hanging colors accentuates the glass facade designed by Kisho Kurokawa. During daytime, sunlight shines through the fabric and colored “dreams” fill the interior space. The gathered “dreams” then burst out into the city as light at night.
For broken flowers, mirrors cover the main entrance area and images of flowers are projected onto them.
These beautiful floral visuals are, at the same time, metaphors of hollow dreams and illusion.
-Date and time: Saturday, May 26, 10:00 – Sunday, May 27, 18:00
-Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
-Admission: Free
UJINO (Tokyo Midtown)
UJINO《Dragonhead House》
UJINO exhibits a Roppongi version of Dragon Head that transforms a vehicle into a jaw. A fusion of traffic cones, car, and architecture, it is a moving sculpture with synchronized sound and light. The automobile is a symbol of the 20th century, which was characterized by mass production and the consumer society. Dragon Head is one of the representative works of this artist, who reconstructs everyday items and technology found all over the world, and proposes new definitions of modern culture.
-Date and time: Saturday, May 26, 10:00 – Sunday, May 27, 18:00
-Venue: Tokyo Midtown Canopy Square
-Admission: Free
*Please see the official website for the program details.
*In accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government regulation on the healthy development of youth, children below the age of 18 may not attend events between the hours of 11 pm and 4 am.
Free (however, fee is required for certain programs and museum events)
TEL: 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial; Available only in Japanese)
Saturday, May 26, 10:00 – Sunday, May 27, 18:00, 2018
[Core Time] Saturday, May 26, 18:00 – Sunday, May 27, 6:00
*Core time is the period with the highest concentration of events with many performances and workshops held.
