Contemporary art is difficult. Who in the world is it and how is it valued?
If you have ever tried to learn about contemporary art, you may have had such a puzzling experience.
Read the "100 People for Understanding Contemporary Art" series for a comprehensive overview of the major domestic and international players in the art world.

11. tadashi kawamata

Since the Venice Biennale in 1982, Tadashi Kawamata has participated in international and group exhibitions around the world.
Many of his works are large-scale, such as lumbering public spaces, and the production process itself is also a work of art.
His theme of "Work in Progress" encompasses the changing process of the maker and the movement of the viewer.

12. hiro senju

Hiroshi Senju is a Japanese painter world-renowned for his large-scale paintings of waterfalls.
His goal is to make the world aware of the existence of Japanese painting and its techniques, and to make it a truly international artistic field.
To this end, he not only produces paintings, but also gives lectures and writes extensively.
She considers the idea of "putting oneself on the side of nature" as the basis of Japanese culture, and uses it as a guideline for her creative activities.

13. Izumi Kato

In Izumi Kato's works, "human-like figures" always appear.
Are they spirits, gods, ancient people like the Jomon, or something from the future? Izumi Kato embodies unique mythical creatures by using oil paintings, wood carvings, and in recent years, three-dimensional works using soft vinyl materials and lithographs.

14. Hiroshi Sugito

Hiroshi Sugito prefers to paint simple motifs such as small houses, the sky, and boats, characterized by delicately and rhythmically arranged colors and shapes.
In 2017, he held a solo exhibition, "Hiroshi Sugito: Dragonflies and Norishiro" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. He presented a large work measuring 15 meters in width.
He has been described as a member of the "Micropop" art movement, and his future activities are also attracting much attention.

15. tomokazu matsuyama

Tomokazu Matsuyama's works show elements of both poles: Eastern and Western, ancient and modern, figurative and abstract.
This is a reflection of Matsuyama's own experiences growing up in both Japan and the U.S., as well as the shifting nature of modern society in the midst of information technology.
Matsuyama's works have been exhibited in major cities such as New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and are in major collections including the Royal Collection of the Emirate of Dubai.

16. chim↑pom

Chim↑Pom is an artist collective that has been unique in the contemporary art scene since its inception.
The group consists of six members: frontwoman Erii, leader Ryuta Ushiro, Yasutaka Hayashi, Toshinori Mizuno, Masataka Okada, and Motomu Inaoka.
They produce and present mainly installations interwoven with video works on the theme of social issues such as consumer society, the earthquake disaster, and the atomic bombing.

17. teamlab

Calling itself an "ultra-technologists group," TeamLab is a collective of experts in various fields of digital society, including programmers, engineers, mathematicians, architects, painters, web designers, graphic designers, CG animators, and editors.
Founded by President Toshiyuki Inoko and his five colleagues, the company provides clients with a variety of solutions not only through artwork but also through technology.