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Why do we hold the Triennale in Yokohama?

Yokohama is a large city adjacent to Tokyo and has a population of 3.7 million.

  Japan was closed to foreign countries under the policy of national seclusion, which lasted for about 200 years from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1859, Yokohama became one of the first five ports to be opened at the request of European countries, the United States, and Russia. Since then, Yokohama has developed into a special place with a continuous influx of new cultures, sometimes clashing and sometimes mingling. The number of nationalities represented in the city now totals 110.

Held in Yokohama, the Yokohama Triennale stands out among the many art festivals currently held in Japan, by reason of its large scale and history of more than 20 years. This year’s 8th edition welcomes Beijing-based Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu as artistic directors (ADs). The title of the exhibition is “Wild Grass: Our Lives.“ This is a reference to the Chinese writer Lu Xun’s book Wild Grass (published in 1927). Our society is currently facing many problems such as war, climate change, economic disparity, and intolerance caused by capitalism run amok. The directors invite us to trace the origins of these problems back 100 years to the time of Lu Xun, and together find clues for how to open the way to the future.

The international exhibition curated by the ADs will show the works of 93 artists/groups from around the world at five venues throughout the city, including the Yokohama Museum of Art. This internationality reflects the history and character of Yokohama. In addition, under the unifying theme of “Wild Grass,” art organizations in the city that have long been active will each present various exhibitions and programs, in a project called  “ManyManyArt!”. With two pillars in the form of the international exhibition and “ManyManyArt!”, the 8th Yokohama Triennale will drive home the message that art can profoundly impact our lives only when it is both globally oriented and locally rooted.

 Wild grass is small and fragile. But it is also a stubborn plant that survives while going unnoticed. Change does not come from heroes and heroines. The buds of change lie dormant in the daily lives of each and every one of us, who are like commonplace wild grass. A trip to Yokohama in spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, will surely provide tips on how to find and nurture these buds.

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