“GO FOR KOGEI,” an initiative that aims to promote the charm of crafts from the Hokuriku region, will celebrate its fifth edition this year. The event will be held from September 14 to October 20, 2024, in the Iwase area (Toyama, Toyama Prefecture) and the Higashiyama area (Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture). Yuji Akimoto, who has been the executive director and curator since 2021, will continue in his role. This year’s event will feature a total of 37 participants, including 15 individual artists + 4 groups. The traditional cityscape will serve as the stage for various craft and art exhibitions, as well as several events.

The theme for this year is “Craft and Art: Philosophies for Life.” The exhibition will bring together artisans, craftsmen, designers, and artists to revisit the characteristics of modern crafts, such as material, technique, utility and expression. It aims to highlight the diversity of contemporary crafts alongside related art. In the Iwase area, which is being used as a venue for the second consecutive year, site-specific installations will be showcased, utilizing the local streetscapes and landscapes. This will provide a unique time and space where local food culture, lifestyle, crafts, and art seamlessly blend. The newly added Higashiyama area, will feature not only art exhibitions, but also five projects that interweave “objects” and “experiences.” This project will allow visitors to explore the practicality, physicality, and the diverse values of crafts, including their historical, cultural, natural, and regional significance. In addition to the main exhibitions, both areas will host events that provide deeper insights into crafts through interactive experiences such as collaborations with food and opportunities to “use” and “touch” the crafts.

The Iwase area, with its historic streets that once thrived as a port of call for the Kitamaebune sea route, and the Higashiyama area, home to the famous tourist attraction Higashi Chaya teahouse district, offers visitors the opportunity to explore towns that retain a sense of traditional living. This exploration invites visitors to contemplate the new meanings and values of crafts and art in modern life.

◾️Related information
“GO FOR KOGEI 2024”
Dates: September 14 to October 20, 2024
Hours: 10:00 am to 4:30 pm (Last entry 4:00 pm)
Venue: Iwase area (Toyama-city, Toyama Prefecture), Higashiyama area (Kanazawa-city, Ishikawa Prefecture)
Closed: Saseki (Tuesday), SKLo (Wednesday), other venues are open daily during the event period
Website: https://goforkogei.com/

Artists:
Akito Akagi & Momoko Otani, Yui Ishiwata, Hirofumi Isoya, Ichizo Ino, Tsutomu Iwasaki, En Iwamura, Koji Kakinuma, Masaru Kawai & Yoshiki Tsukamoto, Sareena Sattapon, Kensho Sawada, Gaku Shakunaga, Haruka Sotome, Yuichi Takemata & Koichiro Oniki, Noritaka Tatehana, Kazuhiro Toyama, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Shiro Miura & En-Kai Project, Yagi Takahiro, Taizo Yasuda

Tickets:
Event Passport
General Admission: JPY2,500 (Advance purchase: JPY2,000)
University / Vocational Students: JPY2,000 (Advance purchase: JPY1,800)
*Provides one-time entry to all exhibition venues during the event period
*Admission is free for high school students and visitors under 18 years old
*Admission is free for visitors with disabilities and one attendant. Visitors must present a disability ID at the Information Center
*One-Day Ticket for specific areas is available for purchase during the event period

Organizers: NPO Syuto Kanazawa, Japan Arts Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs
Co-organizers: Toyama Prefecture, Toyama City
Support: Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa City, West Japan Railway Company

*For details, please check the official website directly