An exhibition showing current trends in contemporary art in Japan.

From June 5 to 20, the 13th edition of Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2019, one of Japan's most established art awards for young artists, was held in the Marunouchi area of Yurakucho and Otemachi, Tokyo. The award's steering committee has been observing Degree Shows held at art colleges and graduate schools across Japan in order to discover and nurture talented young artists. The nominated works will be exhibited at this show in Marunouchi, followed by the Grand Prize and the Jury Prize in Tokyo. The "Marunouchi Prize" will be awarded by audience vote in addition to the Executive Committee and Jury Prizes.

Another interesting aspect of this exhibition is that it not only aims to discover hidden artists, but also to develop Marunouchi as an art district.

The exhibition is held at the Kokusai Building, Shin-Tokyo Building, and Shin-Marunouchi Building on Otemachi Naka-dori Avenue, all in the Marunouchi area, as well as at Gyoko Chika Gallery on Otemachi Naka-dori Avenue.

Surrounded by skyscrapers, Marunouchi, as the heart of Tokyo, provides a stage for young artists, and also allows city dwellers, who would otherwise find it difficult to enjoy contemporary art, to easily access and enjoy the exhibitions. The Gyoko Chika Gallery was built on an underground pedestrian street leading to Tokyo Station. Later, knowing its special location, it was named not only "Art Award Tokyo" but also "Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi.

As a result, for the past 13 years, this exhibition has served as a link between talented young artists, city dwellers, and urban development. That is why we were able to not only focus on the prominent art awards, which serve as a window into the trends of contemporary art in Japan, but also to find value within them.

The nominees are a total of 25 artworks exhibited in Marunouchi, Tokyo. The artists are from the following universities and graduate schools: Tokyo Metropolitan University of Art and Design, Tama Art University, Musashino Art University, Tokyo Zokei University, Joshibi University of Art and Design, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Nagoya University of Art and Design, Kyoto City University of Arts, Tohoku University of Art and Design. I also create artworks in various genres such as painting, sculpture photography, printing, and installation.

I look forward to this award every year as Japan's leading contemporary art prize for its value to the artist, the audience, and the city.

For more information about the exhibition, please visit: http: //www.artawardtokyo.jp/2019/

Article written by: Jeongeun Jo
Born in Korea, lives in Japan. One of the members of TRiCERA, graduated from the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. She is also active as an artist.