Yokohama lays plans for triennale 2011

The Japanese port city of Yokohama will host its triennale art event over four months from early August, with artists from around the world exhibiting their works at venues around the city.

The organizers of the Yokohama Triennale 2011, which was first held in 2001, have declared the theme of this year's event to be "Our magic hour: How much of the world can we know?"

"I get the feeling that advances in scientific and information technology, such as the internet, have made the world more knowledgeable than it has ever been in the past," artistic director Akiko Miki said. "And yet even in our immediate surroundings, there remain countless enigmas - mysteries that remain inexplicable by science or reason.

"In this, the fourth edition of the Yokohama Triennale ... I intend to focus on works of art that refer to the mysteries of the world and our everyday lives - such things as magic-like powers, supernatural phenomena, mythology, legend and animism," she said.

The event will be staged at a number of venues around the city, both indoors and outdoors. The two main venues will be the Yokohama Museum of Art and BankART Studio NYK.

It will include works by more than 60 contemporary artists as well as a number of works from the museum's collection. From site-specific installations and media work to modern painting and historical objects, the exhibition will involve a wide range of works of art.

Artists whose works will be on display include Rina Banerjee, of India, Italy's Massimo Bartolini, New York-based Peter Coffin and pieces by the late James Lee Byars. Taro Izumi will also be exhibiting, alongside Manabu Ikeda, Osamu Mori and Koki Tanaka.

The triennal in Yokohama will complement a number of similar events around the world this year, including La Biennale di Venezia, which dates back to 1895 and incorporates the elements of art, dance, cinema, music, theater and architecture, as well as the Hong Kong Art Fair, in which more than 260 galleries from 38 countries will be taking part in this week.

Yokohama Triennale 2011, August 6 to November 6. Closed August 18, September 1, 15 and 29 and October 13 and 27.

Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm but until 8 pm on Fridays

Venues: Yokohama Museum of Art, NYK Waterfront Warehouse (BankART Studio NYK) and surrounding areas.

Tickets: One-day tickets are Y1,800 (€15.63) for adults, Y1,200 (€10.42) for university students and Y700 (€6.08) for school pupils. In advance, tickets are Y1,200 (€10.42) for adults, Y800 (€6.95) for university students and Y300 (€2.60) for school pupils. Passport tickets are Y3,000 (€26.03) for adults, Y2,000 (€17.36) for university students and Y1,000 (€8.68) for school pupils. Admission is free for junior high school age students, the physically diasbled and their care providers.

www.yokohamatriennale.jp/en

JR