AIT is happy to host a talk by the current artist in resident, Michael Johansson on Monday, Dec 5th.

Michael Johansson is the 2011 IASPIS artist in resident with AIT, staying in Tokyo for three months. Johansson's works are sculptural installations using everyday objects stacked in highly complex formations so that they become almost solid geometric forms, reminiscent of Minimalist sculpture. An avid collector of 'things', Johansson's art practice is intimately connected to his interest in place as a point of departure and research. Johansson has said that his dense sculptures and the city of Tokyo share a certain parallel in terms of being 'packed'. In this talk the artist will speak about his works using images. The title of the talk evokes a contrasting emotion to his interest in density.

The talk will be in English with consecutive Japanese translation by AIT staff.

AIT will hold an artist talk by Ken Lum on 28th November.
He will mainly talk about his art making and works, which will be shown in Tokyo this winter.

Ken Lum's visual grammar to represent the constitution of identity in the face of the relentless forces of acculturation as played out in everyday lived experience will provide an opportunity to hear fresh insights and thoughts.
Please feel free to join us!

We welcome the 2011 artists in residence of ARCUS to make short presentations about their works and also hear from ARCUS Director, Mami Odai. The presentations will be translated consecutively into Japanese from English.

At the event, there will be a bar, snacks, a relaxed sitting on the floor environment and music as usual.
We look forward to seeing you!

"Mirror Portraits"/Type C Print/variable size/ 2011

AIT SLIDE TALK #28
What's Happening in Indonesian art and culture these days?
Talk and Live Discussion with Indonesian curator Agung Hujatnikajennong, and artists Syagini Ratna Wulan and Duto Hardono

Left: Syagini Ratna Wulan / 2010 / Stay With Me Forever(detail) / Solo Exhibition "Love Affair Pt.1: The Dining Room / White Lies"
Right: Duto Hardono / 2010/ Duto with the Marching Band of ITB / Solo exhibition "Good Love, Bad Joke"

Date and Time: Friday, June 17 2011, 19:00 - 21:00
Organized by: Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
Co-Organized by: The Backers Foundation
Venue: AIT Room Daikanyama (Twin Bldg. Daikanyama B-403, 30-8 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku)
Capacity: 30. Booking Required.
Admission: JPY1000/JPY800: 'Base Members' and Students/Free: 'House Members' and 'Support Members'
Others: 1 free drink, talk will be in English with consecutive Japanese translation

【Contact】
Send an email with its subject as "AIT SLIDE TALK #28" to office＠a-i-t.net, including your name, and contact.

　AIT is pleased to host an informal talk with three young Indonesian art professionals. The evening will be a rare opportunity in Tokyo to hear about a younger generation of Indonesian artists and curator, and the changing contexts of art in Indonesia today. All of the speakers are in their late twenties to mid thirties and are active in the contemporary art scene in Indonesia and beyond.

　The talk is a part of the 2011 Backers Artist in Residence program, the fifth edition of this innovative program which invites emerging curators and artists from non-Western countries.

　The curator Agung Hujatnikajennong(b. 1976) will speak about the broad contexts in which art is being made and thought about now in Indonesia. Agung has curated a number of key exhibitions over the past years in Indonesia, forging new global connections for an emerging generation of creators and artists who work internationally. Agung will be joined by two artists: Syagini Ratna Wulan (b1979)and Duto Hardono (b.1985), both of whom have worked with Agung and are currently showing new works at hiromiyoshii roppongi.

　Moderated by AIT staff, the evening will involve slides of recent Indonesian art, alternative spaces and exhibitions, together with lively conversation and questions from the audience. The talk will be held in English with consecutive translation by AIT staff. We hope that you can join us for this Indonesian flavored night of information and new insights.

< Artists >
　・Syagini Ratnawulan (Born in Bandung, 1979, lives and works in Bandung, Indonesia)
　・Duto Hardono (Born in Jakarta, 1985, lives and works in Bandung, Indonesia)

* Syagini Ratna Wulan and Duto Harudono's exhibition 'Rounds' is taking place at hiromiyoshii roppongi until 6/11.

Since 2007, the Backers Foundation, a private group of patrons from the business worlds, has supported eight emerging contemporary artists and four curators to visit Tokyo and stay for a 3 month residency. In 2012, a group exhibition of the 10 previous residency artists will be held. The non-profit organization AIT works with the Backers Foundation to organize and host the program.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arts-Initiative-Tokyo-AIT/129799190423510?ref=ts&sk=wall