Yokoso & Ahlan: Aichi Triennale curated by Hoor Al Qasimi opens doors in Japan

The Aichi Triennale, one of Japan’s leading international art events, has opened its sixth edition to the public. The exhibition, inaugurated on September 13 and to run till November 30, is curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF); she is the first non-Japanese Artistic Director in the triennale’s history.

The exhibition draws its title, A Time Between Ashes and Roses, from a verse by Syrian poet Adonis, a leading voice in the contemporary Arab world and proposes a vision of the future that is framed through geological time, rather than through the current national or territorial perspectives or emergencies.

The event brings together 60 artists and collectives from 22 countries and territories: Robert Andrew explores suppressed family histories through installations; Priyageetha Dia interweaves Southeast Asian labour histories with speculative tropics and machine logics; Simone Leigh presents her acclaimed ceramic and bronze sculptures in Japan for the first time; Faustin Linyekula debuts a performance rooted in dance, storytelling, and the politics of cultural survival; and Emirati artist Afra Al Dhaheri draws from her upbringing in Abu Dhabi, blending performance, video, and installation.

Artworks on display at the exhibition.

Other participating Emirati artists include Mohammed Kazem, known for his work in conceptual art and experimental mediums; Maitha Abdalla, whose work spans film, sculpture, painting and performance; and Shaikha Al Mazrou, who explores themes related to identity and cultural heritage through multimedia works. Kamala Ibrahim Ishag, an artist based in the UAE, also addresses issues of migration and displacement, weaving in a rich narrative of her Sudanese heritage. Celebrated manga artist Morohoshi Daijiro debuts a newly commissioned illustration, while Barrack (Furuhata Taiki + Kondo Kanako) transforms the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum into a café-restaurant and exhibition space that fosters exchange between local and international communities.

Meanwhile, artist Sasaki Rui creates a site-specific installation in a recently closed public bathhouse in Seto City, in Aichi Prefecture, reflecting on everyday life and the region’s deep ties to nature and ceramic traditions. The opening ceremony was graced by Takeo Obayashi, Chairperson of Aichi Triennale Organising Committee and Hideaki Omura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture, along with a distinguished group of dignitaries from the UAE, including Sheikh Salem Bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture; Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Government Relations Department; and Sheikha Nawar Bint Ahmed Al Qassimi, SAF Vice President.

Also attending were Sheikha Hind Bint Majid Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Design Centre; Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, Ambassador of the UAE to Japan and Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Tourism & Commerce Development Authority. Other prominent dignitaries included Halima Humaid Al Owais, Deputy Chairman of the Consultative Council of Sharjah; Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (SHERAA) and Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director General, Sharjah Museums Authority.

Hoor Al Qasimi (foreground) interacts with an artwork.

The triennale hosts roundtable discussions and artist talks (September 14 and 15) and from November 1 - 3, ‘Three Special Days for Experiencing the Vibe of Ceramic City of Seto’ will be held, along with the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum’s annual project of firing ceramics, replicating an old kiln. Hoor Al Qasimi established SAF in 2009 as a catalyst and advocate for the arts, not only in Sharjah, UAE, but also in the region and around the world. She has continuously expanded the scope of the Foundation to include major international touring exhibitions; artist and curator residencies in visual art, film, and music; commissions and production grants for emerging artists; publications and publication grants; performance and film festivals; architectural research and restoration; and a wide range of educational programming for all age groups.

She co-curated Sharjah Biennial 6 (2003), remaining Biennial Director since, and was curator of Sharjah Biennial 15 (2023). She was also elected as President of International Biennial Association in 2017, President of The Africa Institute, and President and Director of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial. Previously, she was a board member at MoMA PS1, New York, and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, among other honours. Presented every three years since its first edition in 2010, the Aichi Triennale is a prominent global arts and culture festival in Japan. It welcomes local and international artists, curators and cultural leaders, to produce experiences fusing the visual and performing arts, learning components and community.

Dignitaries view a painting.

Along with the prefectural capital Nagoya city, the Aichi Triennale shares the region’s historical traditions with the rest of the world across museums, theatres and various venues, by way of its exhibition that highlights and celebrates transcendent contemporary art practices. Each year, participating artists and collectives continue Aichi Triennale’s founding mission of presenting cutting-edge art that fosters spirited cultural exchange and innovative contributions to contemporary visual and performing arts. Aichi Triennale also curates learning components organised by a dedicated team, for cross-cultural learning and engagement.

It connects students of all ages with instructors to engage with art through dialogue, material practice and community-building. Aichi is the third largest metropolitan region in Japan; through the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been the centre of Japan’s technology and manufacturing industries with companies such as Toyota, Denso, Aisin and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, optimised by its location between Tokyo and Kyoto. Additionally, Aichi Prefecture is the second-largest home of foreign residents in Japan, with a population of over 7,400,000. Alongside its manufacturing base, the prefecture hosts a number of traditional industries including karakuri puppetry, ceramics, and textiles.