Aichi Triennale confronts war, memory and environmental collapse

The sixth edition of the Aichi Triennale, titled "A Time Between Ashes and Roses," opened in Japan in September and runs until 30 November. Curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, the first non-Japanese artistic director of the triennial, the exhibition confronts themes of war, displacement, memory, and environmental collapse. Works include Kubo Hiroko's tapestry marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and a video installation by Palestinian duo Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme. Al Qasimi explicitly linked the triennial to the situation in Gaza, stating, "Free Palestine," during a press conference. Controversy erupted over the Aichi-Israel Matching Program, a separate prefectural initiative pairing Israeli startups with local companies, leading to protests and the resignation of vice chairman Hideyuki Tomita from the organizing committee.

29th Art Film Festival @ Aichi Arts Center 12th Floor Art Space A

第29回アートフィルム・フェスティバル @ 愛知芸術文化センター12階アートスペースA

The 29th Art Film Festival will take place on June 15, 2025, at the Aichi Arts Center's Art Space A in Nagoya, Japan. Organized by the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, the festival features a special screening program centered on the film collective Kūzoku. Highlights include the premiere of Katsuya Tomita's 'Senkō Issenri ILHA FORMOSA' (2025), the 33rd original video work commissioned by the Aichi Arts Center, alongside earlier works by Tomita and Toranosuke Aizawa, such as 'The Daughter of Chiang Rai' (2012) and 'Flower Tale Babylon' (1997). The event also includes a talk session with Tomita and Aizawa after the screenings.