The chief curator of the Mori Art Museum Tokyo, Mami Kataoka, will visit Finland in September under Frame’s expert visitor programme. Kataoka was recently appointed as the artistic director of the 21. Sydney Biennale, taking place in 2018. In the discussion to be held at the Helsinki Art Museum HAM on Tuesday 13 September at 4–6pm, Kataoka will talk about her practice and one topic in particular: how different cultures have different ways of perceiving nature as relates to their climate, belief systems and folklore traditions. Starting with a look at Japanese perspectives on nature and tradition, this lecture will explore how our awareness of the invisibles has the potential to open up our view of the universe and diverse value systems in a globalised world, helping us seek a state of equilibrium.
The talk is organised by Frame Contemporary Art Finland in collaboration with HAM. The talk is held in English and it is open for everyone to participate. Welcome!
The Chief Curator at the Mori Art Museum (MAM) in Tokyo since 2003, notable exhibitions Mami Kataoka has curated include ‘Roppongi Crossing’ (2004, 2013), ‘Sensing Nature: Perception of Nature in Japan’ (2010); as well as major survey shows on prominent artists in Asia such as Tsuyoshi Ozawa, Ai Weiwei, Lee Bul, Makoto Aida, and most recently on Lee Mingwei.
Frequently writing for publications and presenting lectures on contemporary art in Asia, Kataoka is a key figure in analysing socio-historical and generational trends within contemporary Japanese Art. In recent years she has extended her curatorial practice internationally, engaging in many projects including ‘ROUNDTABLE: 9th Gwangju Biennale’ (2012), South Korea as Co-Artistic Director and guest curating ‘Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past’ (2012) at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. Kataoka also curated ‘Ai Weiwei: According to What?’ (2012) at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, which toured to several other North American venues.
Photo: Jennifer Yin