Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, is about to get even busier and more fascinating. With the upcoming Osaka Art & Design (OAD) event, residents and visitors will get a chance to see the city turn into a museum with numerous exhibitions. For almost a month, starting May 29 up until June 25, around 50 different events at different venues will present works of art, furniture, and fashion to the guests.
The theme for this year, Expanding Resonance, focuses on creating a sense of resonance, as the name suggests, through the works of artists and creators. The organizers aimed to develop communication between creators and attendees by evoking senses, feelings, and emotions.
The Program
Among the artists and brands that will participate in OAD 2024 are such renowned Japanese artists and creators as Yukari Araki and her Talkative (and eloquent) colors, Keisuke Arikuni and his D-WALL, illustrations by Mizumaru Anzai, artworks by Rintaro Fuse, and photography by Orie Ichihashi, to name a few.
The list of international artists and brands is no less impressive, as it includes French artist Aurélie Mathigot, who will present not only her original works but also products inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s works, made in collaboration with Japanese pottery craftsmen and designers.
Charles Fazzino, a New York City-based pop artist will present his 3D art exhibition, illustrating skyscrapers along with fictional characters. The collaboration of Nick Walker and She One, British street artists, will be available to the public not only to view but to be able to buy through a bidding system.
The OAD event is anything but cliche, as the artists presented there this year are diverse in their forms of art, different techniques, and unique designs. For example, Maki Harigane and his wire anime artworks are a testament to the contemporary art having no limits. This intricate implementation of wire to create the original Japanese comics is striking in its originality.
Yoshio Kubo and his NFT collection Different Dimension, with its theme Wind and Fabric, will present dresses that due to their high-density woven material, such as nylon and polyester, create the look of being overflown by the wind. As part of Object-to-Digital conversion, these dresses have been previously scanned, digitized, and sold as NFTs. Although the sale has now ended, the visitors will have the opportunity to view several pieces from the collection during OAD days.
Besides the contemporary artists and designers, attendees of OAD will also get a chance to see classical pieces of art. One such exhibition is the one commemorating the 160th anniversary of Takeuchi Seiho’s birth. It will present An Evening Shower, one of his best-known works, and his handwritten letters from the Takashimaya Archive collection.
Furniture design enthusiasts will also find something worth checking out. For example, CondeHouse, a furniture company from Asahikawa, Hokkaido since 1968. At the exhibition, you can check out products from the International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa (IFDA), as well as other Japanese aesthetic pieces from their collections developed in collaboration with different designers from around the world.
Finally, the last two events that are worth checking out are One Million People’s Candle Night, also known as Chayamachi Slow Day 2024 and ART POP UP FAIR. The former is a project that started as an initiative by the companies and schools in the Chayamachi area, Umeda. This year on May 31, the candles will be lit from 6 pm to 10 pm, while the exhibition will open at 4 pm. Bear in mind that the event may be postponed to June 1. The residents of the area are invited to turn off the light in their houses, and instead come out to the streets to light candles and connect with one another.
Lastly, the ART POP UP FAIR will open its doors to all the art and book lovers interested in purchasing books selected by Kyoto TSUTAYA BookStore for OAD days. Additionally, the special exhibition of two young artists Akira Taniguchi & Sacco Arai Beyond the Gaze will be available for all the visitors to see.
