Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2026-2028 Winners Announced at TOKAS

Winners of the Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2026-2028 Announced

The Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) has recently determined the recipients of the Tokyo Contemporary Art Award (TCAA) for the 2026-2028 period. In its sixth iteration, the award aims to provide continuous support to mid-career artists through prize money, exhibition opportunities, and research grants overseas. The selection committee, which includes internationally acclaimed curators such as Jose Lina Cruz (Director & Curator of Manila Contemporary Art Design Museum) and Kenichi Kondo (Senior Curator at Mori Art Museum), conducted studio visits and interviews to evaluate candidates.

This year, two outstanding artists emerged as recipients: Han Ishu and yang02. The award ceremony and a commemorative symposium featuring the selection committee members will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art.

Award Winners:

Han Ishu (潘逸舟)

Born in Shanghai in 1987, Han Ishu currently resides in Tokyo. He is set to complete his doctoral program in Image Studies at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2025. Han's work engages with identity and otherness through various media including video, performance, installations, and photography, often reflecting on his own experiences as an immigrant from Shanghai to Aomori. Through humor and sincerity, he explores the relationship between society and individuality, questioning the nuances of existence within mundane scenes of daily life.

Recent exhibitions featuring Han's work include the 'Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival 2025' at M+ in Hong Kong and 'Home Sweet Home' at the National Museum of Modern Art in Osaka. Han has received numerous accolades, such as the prestigious Takashimaya Art Award 2025 and the grand prize at the Nissan Art Award 2020.

yang02 (やんツー)

Born in Kanagawa in 1984, yang02 is based in the same prefecture and completed his postgraduate studies at Tama Art University in 2009. He is best known for installations that question the role of technology in art, replacing typically human actions like drawing with machines. In recent projects, he has tackled issues of politicality and privilege hidden behind the convenience of technology, showcasing installations that transform spaces into power stations through home-made generators.

yang02's recent notable exhibitions include the 'Setouchi Triennale 2025' and 'Roppongi Crossing 2022' at the Mori Art Museum. He has also received the 'TERRADA ART AWARD 2023' and an Excellence Award at the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival in 2018.

Selection and Support

The awards are designed to recognize artists with a distinct visual language and the potential for growth, offering financial support in the form of a 3 million yen prize and additional funding for overseas activities. Along with exhibitions at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art, winners will have a chance to create a bilingual monograph, enhancing their visibility in the international art scene.

The selection committee emphasized the importance of authenticity in the artists’ presentations and the pressing societal themes they addressed, such as gender and technology. The aim of the award is not only to bolster the careers of mid-career artists but also to encourage them to explore new creative potentials.

Award Ceremony and Symposium Details

The award ceremony will feature keynote speeches and discussions that delve into the artists' practices. It’s scheduled for March 4th, from 14:00-16:10, at the B2F Auditorium of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Admission is free but requires prior registration.

For more details and to register, please visit TCAA Official Website.

The Tokyo Contemporary Art Award plays a fundamental role in embracing and fostering the careers of promising domestic artists, marking significant moments in their journey with notable exhibitions and retrospective opportunities.