#Japan #Tokyo #Tokyo Zokei #BAU SHIBUYA #Gestaltung

Tokyo Zokei University's 60th Anniversary Project

Tokyo Zokei University, situated in Hachioji, Tokyo, is gearing up to celebrate its remarkable 60th anniversary with an innovative initiative called the "Gestaltung Project." Kicking off in May 2026 and running until December, the project will unfold over three exciting phases at the BAU SHIBUYA venue in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The term "Zokei" in the university’s name comes from the German word "Gestaltung," which embodies the concepts of shaping and formation, reflecting a philosophy that transcends the boundaries of art and design. The Gestalt Project stands as a tribute to this principle, showcasing multiple exhibits that center around the idea of "holistic shaping." The goal is to explore new possibilities of artistic expression by encouraging interactions and resonances among a diverse audience without establishing direct relations among the different initiatives.

First Exhibition: Medium and Dimension: Continuum

Curated by: Takuya Nakao
Artists featured: Nozomi Suzuki, Takuro Tamayama, Nerhol, and Mitsumura Kotori.

The inaugural exhibition, titled "Medium and Dimension: Continuum," delves into the theme of continuum by integrating various timelines into a cohesive unfolding experience. This innovative exhibition, while spanning three separate phases, will operate under the guiding principle of creating a single flowing narrative rather than distinct separations.

Hosted at BAU SHIBUYA, this showcase will not assume a singular timeline characteristic of many traditional exhibitions. Instead, it aims to expand towards various dimensions of time and space, allowing each featured artist to reinterpret the linear perception of past, present, and future through different approaches, such as succession, regression, transformation, and substitution.

Alongside this, a retrospective exhibition titled “Multiple-delay” will emerge, flipping the conventional exhibition timeline by showcasing a journey from present to past. An intricate interplay of these layered temporalities will generate new dimensions within the exhibition space, offering visitors a unique corridor to traverse a vision of art that challenges standard continuity. This show invites audiences to reconsider the boundaries of time and space in art and reflect on the continuity inherent in contemporary expressions.

Second Exhibition: CSP + Memory’s Perspective

Curated by: Fuminao Suenaga

• - First Phase: Memory’s Perspective 1 by Saori Namai: "Dust and Light"
• - Second Phase: Memory’s Perspective 2 by Saki Iwamori: "Horo Sculpture -Sculpting the Horo-"
• - Third Phase: Memory’s Perspective 3 by Takafumi Nagamine: "Don’t Look at the Birds"

The CSP (Creative Spiral Project) series, orchestrated by the painting and sculpture departments of Tokyo Zokei University, is set for a makeover in honor of this significant anniversary. This project will spotlight works by young alumni artists over a series of small-scale exhibitions that aim to depict how individual and collective memories intertwine with material interactions. Since its inception in 2013, CSP has fostered the growth of many emerging artists, linking their educational backgrounds with the evolving trends of the external art scene.

The new format “CSP +” will offer a fresh showcase of varied expressions across three phases in BAU SHIBUYA Forum 1, maintaining the ethos of the original CSP while allowing for shared dialogues among separated exhibition phases.

Third Exhibition: Sound and Vision

Curated by: Miho Shirai

• - First Phase: Kai Yokota
• - Second Phase: Maiko Jinushi
• - Third Phase: Achilles Hedges

The final exhibition explores the profound interconnection between sound and vision which fundamentally influences our perceptual experiences. Through the work of these artists, the showcase will probe how various sensory experiences intersect and reshape our understanding. This exhibition will feature kinetic devices intertwined with everyday objects, significant literary encounters mediated through audiovisual elements, and perceptual transformations activated by audience engagement.

By merging art with daily life, these compelling works challenge preconceptions, prompting audiences to re-evaluate how we perceive the world and envision the possibilities of contemporary art.

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Event Details:

• - Event: Tokyo Zokei University’s 60th Anniversary Gestalt Project
• - Exhibition Phases:

- First Phase: May 15 - June 6, 2026
- Second Phase: September 11 - October 3, 2026
- Third Phase: December 4 - December 26, 2026

• - Opening Hours: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• - Days Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
• - Admission Fee: Free
• - Venue: BAU SHIBUYA Forum BF/Forum 1, Shibuya, Tokyo
• - Location: 1-4-22 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo
• - Access: 9-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station and Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingu-mae Station
• - Organizer: Tokyo Zokei University
• - Project Committee: Gestaltung Project Executive Committee
• - Support: Tokyo Zokei University Alumni Association
• - Directions on Google Maps

Tokyo Zokei University, established in 1966 by fashion designer Yoko Kuwasawa, is celebrated for its comprehensive education in art and design, nurturing creativity and individuality among its students in a dynamic environment.