September 28th (Sat) – November 24th (Sun), 2024
In the autumn of 2024, a new international art festival called “Forest Art Festival: Sunny Country Okayama” will be held, focusing on the northern region of Okayama Prefecture. The festival will run from September 28 to November 24.
This art festival aims to explore ecological thinking and new capital possibilities through the traditional architecture and nature that remain in this area, which once flourished as a castle town and post town. The art director is Yuko Hasegawa, director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
The festival will take place in 12 cities and towns within Okayama Prefecture (Tsuyama City, Takahashi City, Niimi City, Maniwa City, Mimasaka City, Shinjō Village, Kagamino Town, Shōō Town, Nagi Town, Nishi-Awakura Village, Kumenan Town, Misaki Town). The artwork will be displayed in Tsuyama (Tsuyama Castle area, Green Hills Tsuyama area), Nagi (Nagi Town Museum of Contemporary Art area), Niimi (Makidō and Ikura-dō caves area), Maniwa (Hiruzen area), and Kagamino (Okutsu area).
The artists and exhibition locations are as follows:
Tsuyama Castle Area: Paola Bezana (PORT ART&DESIGN TSUYAMA), Tarek Atoui, Yoshikatsu Katagiri, Yuna Yagi (Joto Mukashi Machiya), Rirkrit Tiravanija, Saburou Ohta, Moe Kato, Chiharu Koda, Yuka Mori (Shurakuen), Asim Waqif (Tsuyama Castle), Giacomo Zaganelli (Tsuyama International Hotel Ruins), Kimsooja (Tsuyama Manabi no Tetsudōkan), Bianca Bondi, Umesh P.K, Masanobu Emi (Josai Romankan), Outi Pieski (Sakushu Folk Art Museum), Ernesto Neto (Green Hills Tsuyama).
Nagi Town Museum of Contemporary Art Area: AKI INOMATA, Muhannad Shono, Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takaya, Arata Isozaki (Nagi Town Museum of Contemporary Art), Mirai Moriyama (Symbol Road), Leandro Erlich (Indoor Gateball Court “Spark Nagi”).
Makidō and Ikura-dō Caves Area: Mika Ninagawa (Makidō), Anri Sala (Ikura-dō), Keita Sugiura (Fureai Center Maki), Michael Lin (Manabino Mori Niimi Library).
Hiruzen Area: Smita G.S, Rinko Kawauchi, Katsuyoshi Azuma, Yoshihiko Ueda (GREENable Hiruzen), Kazuyo Sejima (Katsuyama Townscape Preservation District and others).
Okutsu Area: Jen-Chung Liao (Okutsu Promotion Center), Yukinobu Tateishi (Okutsukei).
Hasegawa, directing a domestic art festival for the first time, stated, “The forest is Japan’s resource. One theme of this art festival is how to use it. We have gathered artists who have viewed the forest as a companion. We want to leave a legacy at each location.”
Magazine
Bijutsu Techo
美術手帖
>>>
Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama
official website
>>>
Official Tour Bus
We operate guided tour buses that efficiently take you to venues located in a wide area. There are two courses: the “History Course” (Tsuyama/Nagi Area) and the “Nature Course” (Niimi/Maniwa/Kagamino Area). You can choose either course departing from Okayama Station or Tsuyama Station. By combining these two courses, you can visit all the exhibition areas. Additionally, with the guidance of a dedicated tour guide, you can enjoy a deeper appreciation of the artworks.
1. History Course (Tsuyama/Nagi Area)
1-a
Departure/Arrival from Okayama Station
Fee: Adults ¥12,000
Children (Elementary School) ¥11,000 (includes lunch)
Route:
Okayama Station West Exit Bus Terminal →
Tsuyama Castle Area (art viewing and lunch) →
Green Hills Tsuyama Area (art viewing) →
Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art Area (art viewing) →
JR Tsuyama Station (optional drop-off) →
Okayama Station West Exit Bus Terminal
1-b
Departure/Arrival from Tsuyama Station
Fee: Adults ¥10,000
Children (Elementary School) ¥9,000 (includes lunch)
Route:
Tsuyama Station North Exit Plaza →
Tsuyama Castle Area (art viewing and lunch) →
Green Hills Tsuyama Area (art viewing) →
Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art Area (art viewing) →
Tsuyama Station North Exit Plaza
2. Nature Course (Niimi/Maniwa/Kagamino Area)
2-a
Departure/Arrival from Okayama Station
Fee: Adults ¥12,000
Children (Elementary School) ¥11,000 (includes lunch)
Route:
Okayama Station West Exit Bus Terminal →
Makido & Ikuradō Cave Area (art viewing) →
Shinjō Village (lunch) →
Hiruzen Area (art viewing) →
Okutsu Area (art viewing) →
JR Tsuyama Station (optional drop-off) →
Okayama Station West Exit Bus Terminal
2-b
Departure/Arrival from Tsuyama Station
Fee: Adults ¥10,000
Children (Elementary School) ¥9,000 (includes lunch)
Route:
Tsuyama Station North Exit Plaza →
Makido & Ikuradō Cave Area (art viewing) →
Shinjō Village (lunch) →
Hiruzen Area (art viewing) →
Okutsu Area (art viewing) →
Tsuyama Station North Exit Plaza
Operating Dates
From Saturday, September 28, 2024, to Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Operating Days: Weekends and holidays (September & October) / Fridays, weekends, and holidays (November).
Notes
- Minimum number of participants: 10 (Tours will not operate if the number of participants is less than 10)
- Art viewing fees: Not included in the tour fee. To view paid exhibitions, you need to purchase an Art Viewing Passport or a Single Venue Ticket.
Sales Locations
If you wish to join the tour, please apply through Ryobi Tours Friends Pack.
TEL: 086-226-1515 (Weekdays 10:00–13:00, Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
Web: https://friendspack.jp/forestartfest-okayama/ (Only Japanese)
Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama
official website
>>>
