Aichi Triennale 2019: Taming Y/Our Passion, After “Freedom of Expression?”
2019, Selected Group Exhibition, Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Aichi, Japan
Overview of the Incident: Aichi Triennale 2019
At Aichi Triennale 2019 held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the special exhibition After "Freedom of Expression?"—in which I participated—was forced to close due to terroristic attacks by Japanese right-wing groups.
The exhibition was designed to gather and display artworks that had previously been censored at public art museums in Japan, presented alongside the context of their censorship. Right-wing groups launched an attack on the Triennale through social media and a barrage of phone calls, specifically targeting the Statue of Peace—a sculpture by a Korean couple depicting the issue of Japan’s wartime "comfort women." The situation escalated to the point where a threat of arson was received, warning that gasoline would be spread to burn down the venue (the perpetrator who sent this fax was later arrested). Furthermore, certain politicians publicly condemned both the exhibition and the Triennale itself.
Amidst this turmoil, I released a joint statement with Yui Usui, another participating Japanese female artist. We took this action because we believed that the events unfolding at the Triennale constituted a hate crime against all women.
This statement became part of the "Refreedom Aichi" movement, which aimed to reopen the suspended exhibition during the Triennale. Through an official website, we collected signatures from both art professionals and the general public without distinction to support the cause.
Consequently, the exhibition was reopened for the final week of the Triennale, following the implementation of comprehensive security measures against right-wing attacks and the establishment of educational programs for the general public regarding the exhibition.
After the Triennale concluded, the Japanese government and the Agency for Cultural Affairs revoked the subsidy that had been allocated to the event, citing the controversial exhibition as the reason. As a result, the Triennale was effectively censored by the Japanese government.
Subsequently, participating artists launched protests, held press conferences, and organized crowdfunding campaigns opposing the retraction of the subsidy. Ultimately, the Japanese government and the Agency for Cultural Affairs reinstated the subsidy, although the amount was reduced.
[Artists and Cultural Workers’ Statement on Gender Equality]
"This is a work of art that fundamentally addresses the human rights of women... We voice our strong objection to all forms of gender discrimination." (Excerpt from the co-authored statement, Aichi Triennale 2019)
A collective action and statement addressing gender inequality and censorship in the arts.
Selected Collective Members & Signatories Candice Breitz, Miriam Cahn, Dora Garcia, Minouk Lim, Park Chan-kyong, Monica Mayer, Meiro Koizumi, Yui Usui, Jason Waite, and others.
[MEDIA COVERAGE] Artforum International Following Closure of Aichi Triennale Exhibition, Artists Speak Out Against Gender Discrimination in Japan Featured as a pivotal protest against structural gender discrimination and state censorship in the Japanese art scene. Read Full Article >
[ARCHIVE] Full Statement (Official Action Archive) Visit Website >
