This juried open call exhibition, "Stepping Into A World III," is the eighth installment in a series of shows that aims to collaborate with Emmy Award-winning writer Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato, a renowned curator based in New York known for her expertise in Japanese culture. The overarching goal of this series is to showcase the talent of 39 Japanese and 8 New York-based global artists who produce captivating works across various genres and backgrounds, while integrating them into the forefront of the global art scene. By facilitating meaningful interactions and inspiration exchanges between these Japanese artists and leading figures in New York's artistic community, as well as those working internationally, the series aims to foster a dynamic and impactful artistic dialogue. Moreover, this time, the exhibition is expanded to two venues. Additionally, the most recent Japan Contemporaries (Series 9, Gallery 60) will be held simultaneously, creating a whirlwind of Japanese art in summer New York.

The jurors were Dr. Les Joynes (Research Scholar and Curator, Columbia University), Kenji Tokumitsu (President, Gallery Tagboat), Jun Hanada (President, Ginza Hanada Art), Motoichi Adachi (Emmy Award winning writer) and Kyoko Sato (NY Curator). We will exhibit the selected Japanese artists along with a few New York front runner artists.

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"I cut through the art world with the sensibility that has long been active in the world of Japanese television. We want to bring a new wind of free and unrestrained ideas to a world that values old traditions. Beautiful works are beautiful and interesting works are interesting, even if they are not from famous art universities or patronized by influential galleries. We want to let attractive artists run amok in the world. I would like to try an unconventional challenge this time.”                            

— Motoichi Adachi

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Japan was defeated in World War II, but in the years that followed, many Japanese artists came to New York with dreams of international success. Although the industry has changed in the nearly 80 years after the war, the trend remains the same today. Many of the artists selected for "Stepping Into A World III” will be exhibiting in New York City for the first time, and this opportunity will be a big step forward for them.

The works include photography, paintings, prints, sculptures and installations. Through this exhibition, visitors will receive a general view of what artists working in Japan today are interested in, what they express, and what techniques they use. In addition, many artists will perform, and during the reception at the Tenri Gallery, it will become lively with a jungle like atmosphere featuring performances happening one after another. At the Max Gallery, Kyogen actor Motoya Izumi will collaborate with Dragon Artist TAKAKO through a recorded voice performance newly produced for the exhibition.

Historical masters such as Yasuo Kuniyoshi (who moved to New York in 1910), Yoko Ono (1951), Yayoi Kusama (1957), On Kawahara (1965), Ushio Shinohara (1969), Hiroshi Senju (1993), and Takashi Murakami (2001) also had their first steps and first exhibitions in New York. We cannot help but hope that such world-class artists will be born in the future from the artists in this exhibition.

When artists come to New York and start living here, their style changes with every moment. The international artists in the guest exhibition also have cultural backgrounds from Bangladesh (Firoz Mahmud), Kenya (M Yakub), Austria (Rainer Ganahl) , New York (Joe Piscopia, Les Joynes) and Japan (Hideki Takahashi, Masato Okano, Max Fujishima), and you can sense from their works how they were inspired by their own cultural backgrounds.

— Kyoko Sato

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[Grand Prize] Keiichi Noro

Born in 1972, Noro is a self taught photographer and artist based in Hokkaido. Known for capturing the harsh and beautiful nature around Lake Toya. He is a recipient of the LUMIX AWARD Snap Division Excellence Award (2019, Panasonic, Tokyo), Grand Prize at the 4th Life with Coffee Photo Contest (2019, All Japan Coffee Association, Tokyo, Ikebukuro Sunshine), Best Video Award at the LUMIX AWARD 2020 PHOTO & MOVIE CONTEST (2020, Panasonic, Tokyo), featured on the Hokkaido Tourism Organization's LOVEHOKKAIDO website (2020, Hokkaido), selected as one of the 45 participants in the GFX Challenge program (2022, Fujifilm, Tokyo), and exhibited at KYOTOGRAPHIE KG+ "JAPAN PHOTO AWARD + INTUITION" (2023, Japan Photo Award, HOTEL ANTEROOM

KYOTO l Gallery 9.5, Kyoto).