CONCEPT

"ARTBAY TOKYO" is an art project launched in Tokyo Waterfront City under the theme of "Connecting People and Places Through Art." As part of this initiative, we held the "ARTBAY TOKYO Art Festival 2024 ~ Port of Dialogue" from Friday, September 27th to Sunday, October 6th, 2024. Marking its third year, this festival’s theme was "Port of Dialogue – Engaging in Dialogue： with Yourself, with the World, and with the Future." This year, with an emphasis on interaction, we focused on "dialogue" with a variety of objects and experiences, offering new artistic encounters and immersive experiences throughout Tokyo Waterfront City.

This year’s main area featured "round horizon," created by contemporary artist Noboru Tsubaki. The 4-meter-high mast adorned with colorful patterns painted by artist Saki Matsumura added a vibrant touch to the venue. The festival also hosted talk shows where artists themselves shared stories, drawing attendees to listen to insights that aren’t often publicly shared. At the Stone and Light Square, Takehiro Iikawa, known for his Decorator Club Series, showcased vivid art installations. Four neon-colored cabins stood out even from a distance, enticing many visitors to stop and look inside. Iikawa’s iconic work, Neko no Kobayashi-san, made an appearance as a giant cat in XR, delighting the audience and adding an extra spark to the event.
In the evening, there was also a special event of the 'Tokyo International Projection Mapping Award.' Passersby watched with fascination as Tokyo Big Sight was illuminated in a vibrant array of colors rarely seen.

In the main area of Circulation Balls, Dream Plaza, a dome-shaped installation was featured. By holding up a mobile app, visitors could experience an immersive sensation, as if entering a “cell.” Additionally, a newly added “tactile” experience allowed participants standing on a special platform to feel raindrops hitting an umbrella, with sounds of surprise and amazement heard throughout the venue.

The "Kaiten Hazai Sushi" workshop presented sushi made from factory scraps and sponges crafted to resemble sushi rice, displayed on a conveyor belt to mimic the experience. Although this workshop was only held on weekends, it attracted a wide range of participants, from international visitors to children and adults alike.
The 'Kids Ornithology Workshop' is a hands-on activity where children learn about the migratory black-headed gull and create their own unique accessory boxes using eco-friendly cardboard. With Dr. Yusuke Sawa, a migratory bird expert from the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, the children enthusiastically learned about Tokyo's official bird, the black-headed gull, while enjoying the crafting process.
The popular TV program Sakura Meets stepped out of the studio and took on the art festival. Sakurazaka46 members Rina Inoue, Akihiro Onuma, Yui Takemoto, and Kira Masumoto, joined by Rei Ozono and supported by Mo Chugakusei, collaborated to create a participatory art piece. Throughout the event, fans continuously gathered to add their own illustrations, contributing to the artwork’s completion.

The VR theater production Prometheus Bound made by Meiro Koizumi, which premiered at the Aichi Triennale 2019, made its appearance at ARTBAY TOKYO Art Festival 2024. This acclaimed work, which won the Grand Prize in the Art Division at the 2021 Japan Media Arts Festival, attracted many visitors eager to experience it firsthand.
The following week, the same venue showcased Heading #01, Ballet #01, and Dialogue with the Unconscious. Both children and adults were captivated by the enchanting, otherworldly atmosphere, so different from the everyday."

To coincide with the event, contemporary artist Noboru Tsubaki, the main area artist, and painter Saki Matsumura, who designed the flag, appeared for a talk session. They were joined by Kohei Terada, President of Warehouse TERRADA, and painter Kaoru Usukubo. The audience was captivated by insights from the artists, normally rare to hear, and discussions on the potential of young Japanese artists.

Street pianos that anyone can play freely will appear at Aqua City Odaiba and Ariake Garden. “Brillia Art Piano” provided by Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. will be installed at Aqua City Odaiba, and “Love Piano” provided by Yamaha Music Japan Co., Ltd. will be installed at Ariake Garden. “Brillia Art Piano” is a piano decorated with art drawn by artists with disabilities, with the theme of “Art that travels around various places.” “Love Piano” was painted by illustrator Keiichi Tachikawa and students from Ochanomizu Art College. Both are colorful street pianos suitable for art festivals.
Each day, street artists played their own heartfelt music, drawing the gallery audience into a world of wonder and inspiration.

Following last year’s success, the AR project Circulation Balls XR, planned and developed by STYLY Inc. and the Corporate Design Center, made an even more impactful return, expanding across all six areas(A・B・C・D・E・F) of the venue. This year’s installation featured a surreal scene of balls running through spaces where they shouldn't be, encouraging visitors to discover new charms of the town by strolling and following the balls.
At Dream Plaza, a landmark spot in the Tokyo Bay area, an impressive scene unfolded as balls flooded the highway, rolling and floating, with a rainbow stretching across the sky. At TOKYO DREAM PARK construction site, countless balls also rolled in, creating a mesmerizing sight...
Integrated with Toyota’s OSAMPO initiative, attendees could hold up their smartphones and enjoy each unique scene, adding an interactive layer to their exploration.