Arab News Japan

ABU DHABI: Louvre Abu Dhabi is hosting the fifth edition of its annual exhibition and competition, Art Here, from Oct. 11 until Dec. 28 with a special focus on Japanese and Middle Eastern artists, reflecting the growing contemporary art scene in Japan and the GCC region. 

Conceptualized by Japanese-Swiss curator and jury member Sophie Mayuko Arni, the exhibition is opening under the theme of ‘Shadows’ and aims to explore the interplay between light and absence.

This year’s edition received 400 proposals from artists based in the GCC and Japan. 

Three Japanese artists (Ryoichi Kurokawa, Rintaro Fuse, and Takuma Yokomae), out of seven total, were selected to be showcased under the museum’s dome; each bringing a unique cultural perspective and creative approach. 

Kurokawa is an audiovisual artist and composer who is known for creating immersive installations that combine synchronized abstract visuals and experimental electronic soundscapes.

Fuse is an artist and a poet who explores themes of solitude and isolation in relation to digital connections. He presents his work through diverse mediums such as video installations, VR, AR, web-based platforms, and poetry to showcase how technology contributes to humans’ experiences of feeling presence and absence.

Yokomae is an architect who will present his work alongside Ghali Bouayad from Morocco. The duo, who go by the name YOKOMAE et BOUAYAD, work on projects that blend design traditions from Tokyo and Marrakesh. 

“I’m deeply honored to curate this year’s edition of Art Here and thrilled to see such a positive response from artists across the region and Japan,” Arni reflected. “The theme of Shadows allowed for wide interpretations of outdoor installations, and the sheer number of proposals received speaks volumes about the relevance of Art Here.”

“Expanding the geographical reach of the prize may come with challenges, but fostering cross-cultural understanding sits at the heart of the museum’s mission and provides artists with new horizons to dream and imagine,” she added. 

Alongside Arni, this year’s jury will also include Japanese curator and visiting professor at Kyoto University Yuko Hasegawa, who was honored with the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award in 2020 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2015. 

Other jury members include Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Guilhem André, Director of the Scientific, Curatorial, and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi; and Maya Allison, Executive Director of the Art Galleries and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi.

“This year’s expansion into Japan marks a deliberate curatorial shift that deepens cross-cultural dialogue between the Gulf and East Asia, broadening the scope of artistic engagement, and reaffirming our role as a hub for both regional and international creativity,” André said. 

“As we continue to support and elevate emerging voices from the UAE and the region, we are equally committed to cultivating new creative bridges across continents, reflecting our sustained belief that contemporary art is a powerful lens through which we can understand our shared humanity and experiences,” he added.