[Lounge Event + Artist Mini Talk | Free Admission, No Reservation Required, Open Entry & Exit]
AIT will host the spring edition of “Minglius” at the Daikanyama AIT Room on Tuesday, April 8. “Minglius” is a coined term combining “mingle” and “us,” representing an event where people can socialize through art while enjoying drinks and music. Each session features a different theme, bringing together a diverse range of participants. Whether you’re new to AIT or a regular, we invite you to relax and enjoy the evening with us!
Mini Talk “Shapes of Water” by Sanne Vaassen
In the first half of the event, Dutch artist Sanne Vaassen, who is participating in AIT’s residency program through the Mondriaan Fund, will give a mini talk. Sanne, based in Maastricht, Netherlands, explores the fluidity of landscapes, traditions, and language. Her work examines how natural elements such as trees, animal behavior, moss, and puddles serve as guides that mark the passage of time.
During the talk, she will introduce her past works, discuss her research on Tokyo’s history of flood control, and share insights from her visits to various parks and gardens in the city. She will also present her ongoing project of extracting color palettes from these locations and talk about her upcoming booklet. The talk will be conducted with consecutive interpretation (Japanese-English).
Before and after the talk, there will be a casual networking session with the artist. Enjoy Dutch-inspired snacks and drinks while mingling with fellow attendees! This is also a great opportunity to join us for a gathering during the cherry blossom season. We look forward to welcoming you!
Event Details
Lounge Event “Minglius” + Mini Talk “Shapes of Water” by Dutch Artist Sanne Vaassen
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 18:30 – 21:00 (Doors open at 18:30) *Mini talk: 19:30 – 20:30
Venue: Daikanyama AIT Room (Twin Building Daikanyama B403, 30-8 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku)
Mini Talk Speaker: Sanne Vaassen (Netherlands; Mondriaan Fund Resident Artist)
English – Japanese Interpreter: Satoshi Ikeda
Organizer: Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
Supported by Mondriaan Fonds (The Netherlands)
Free Admission | No Reservation Required | Open Entry & Exit | Consecutive Interpretation Available
If you get lost, please contact AIT at 03-5489-7277.
Sanne Vaassen
Artist (Netherlands)
Sanne Vaassen is fascinated by the unstoppable and continuously flowing transition of her surroundings: not just the transient matter within nature (changing of seasons, the hydrological cycle or symbiosis between fungus and trees), but also the changes within our culture, how for example rules and laws are adapted, how traditions and customs gain new meanings or how language evolves. Often she analyses and deconstructs such developments and questions their symbolism.
She completed her Bachelor‘s degree at the Maastricht Institute of Arts in 2013 and worked at the Jan van Eyck Academy in 2014/2015. She won the Henriëtte Hustinx Prize in 2013, the Parkstad Limburg Prize in 2016 and the Symbio Kunstprijs in 2024. Her work has previously been shown in several group and solo exhibitions nationally and abroad, including the Bonnefantenmuseum (Maastricht), SALTS (Basel), Unit 1 Gallery (London), and 601Artspace (New York).
During her stay at Arts Initiative Tokyo Sanne will research the water network of Tokyo and the invisible flood control system that lies underneath the city. She will investigate the shapes that the rivers in Tokyo had throughout the past and what influence humans had on the rerouting of the rivers.
Mondriaan Fonds (Netherlands)
The Mondriaan Fonds is a public institution dedicated to supporting visual arts and cultural heritage in the Netherlands. It funds various projects and programs involving artists, exhibition organizers, critics, museums, arts and heritage institutions, and publishers.
The fund supports creators based in the Netherlands, regardless of nationality, including those who have relocated for study or work. Through this initiative, artists from diverse backgrounds are invited to Japan. This diversity is reflected in their artistic expressions and research themes, fostering mutual learning through talks and workshops hosted by AIT.
Past Invited Artists (Former AIT Website)