Japanese arts and culture blossom in Dubai, a cutting-edge city that continues to evolve! JAPAN TIDE 2018 in UAE Event Report

2018/4. The Japanese culture dissemination project “JAPAN TIDE”, handled by Japan Promotion, was carried out in Dubai, UAE, where dazzling sunlight shines.

“JAPAN TIDE” started in 2017 and is now in its 2nd year. Continuing from last year, various events were held at various locations to introduce a wide range of attractive Japanese art, from traditional Japanese art nurtured over a long history to contemporary art and crafts that make use of Japan's aesthetic sense, centering on participation in the art fair “World Art Dubai” representing the UAE.

JAPAN TIDE 2018
Period: 2018/4/18 (Wed) to 22 (Sun) 1. World Art Dubai 2018:4/18 (Wed) -21 (Sat) 2. JAPANESE CALTURAL EVENING: 4/22 (Sun) 3. SPECIAL COLLABORATION -Miyako Meets Japanese Craft Works- ■ Organizer: Japan Promotion Association ■ Cooperation: DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTER/Kinokuniya Bookstore Dubai Store/Miyako/Kiku/Samurai/Motomachi/Chateraise Dubai>> World Art Dubai official website

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＞＞Click here for the 2017 “JAPAN TIDE” event report!

Art from around the world gathers! World Art Dubai 2018

Art fans from all over the world visited the venue, the World Trade Center, every day

UAE's leading international art fair”World Art Dubai”. Many artists from Japan exhibited at this major event, which concludes the Dubai art season, which continues in the fall, and attracted attention this year as well.

Calligrapher and painter: Mr. Rei Ching and other artists fascinated the visitors with their “skills”

A total of 41 groups and about 300 works were exhibited at “JAPAN ZONE,” the largest booth specializing in Japanese art in the hall operated by Japan Promotion.
Visitors were glued to the delicate colors, forms, and dignified beauty, which imbued with a sensibility unique to Japanese people.

On 4/18 (Wednesday), which is the first day of the exhibition, many local VIPs with deep knowledge of art visited. Discerning VIPs also had happy expressions on their faces at the international art competition that enlivened scenes from all over the world.

Also, on the evening of the same day, a performance workshop event will be held by artists exhibiting at JAPAN ZONE. Through dynamic stages and participatory workshops, we succeeded in strongly appealing the essence of Japanese art.

＞＞Check out the “bulletin” for more details on the first day of the event!

People fascinated by the “Japanese sense of beauty”

The fascinating Japanese art that adorned the JAPAN ZONE received a lot of feedback and went into the hands of people who had an encounter with a masterpiece like no other.

“It's too beautiful!” “I've never seen anything so cool!” The buyers of the work say rave reviews, and the exhibiting artists respond to their straightforward expressions and expressions of joy with a smile. Close exchanges of hearts across countries between people who love art were realized here and there at the venue.

The JAPAN ZONE booth was nominated for the “Gallery Award”!

The booth of an artist group that exhibited by Japan Promotion this year was nominated for the “Gallery Award” category of the “World Art Dubai Awards,” which is selected from all exhibitors every year.

They dominated the venue's gaze with dynamic photographic art that captured spectacular views of the world.
During the exhibition, they were called out by multiple UAE galleries and London galleries, and even offered to plan an exhibition for 6 weeks at a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, leaving a big mark.

Many offers and contracts leading to future developments have also been realized!

In addition to that, many of the artists who have recently exhibited at JAPAN ZONE left results leading to future activities during the exhibition. Here are just a few of them!

● It caught the eye of gallerists operating in one of Dubai's leading resort areas, and a contract for the sale of the work was realized

● Offer to exhibit at an exhibition on the theme of “Sheikh Zayed: 100th Anniversary” held in Abu Dhabi and attended by many local celebrities

*Sheikh Zayed... known as the “Founding Father of the UAE,” the first president after the founding of the UAE in 1971.

● Offers to hold lectures and production workshops for students at an international school in Dubai

● The Japanese restaurant at the five-star hotel “Le Meridien Dubai Hotel” in Dubai has decided to exhibit and sell works by multiple artists who have exhibited at JAPAN ZONE

● Large articles about JAPAN ZONE and exhibiting artists were published in the major local cultural newspaper “Al Bayan”　＞＞ Click here for the “Al Bayan” web version article

● Newspaper articles from within Japan during the exhibition: Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, 4/26

● An article introducing JAPAN TIDE's efforts was published in the Dubai Economic Newspaper: “World Art Dubai” Closing Art Season: “World Art Dubai” Closing Art Season”　＞＞ Click here for the “Dubai Economic Daily” web version article

A one-night Japanese night at Kinokuniya in Dubai! “JAPAN Cultural EVENING”

On 4/22 (Sun), the day after the closing of World Art Dubai, performances and workshops were held by Japanese artists at the “Kinokuniya Dubai Store,” which has a store in the Dubai Mall, which is a popular shopping mall in the world.

The event space prepared in the center of the spacious bookstore saw a large audience as soon as it started. The live performance, which was invaluable in Dubai, instantly captivated the crowd.

People who wanted to participate flooded in to the calligraphy experience workshop that followed. While struggling with brushes that were difficult to handle, everyone took on the challenge of creating works with a serious gaze.

All of the participants completed their own calligraphy and had satisfied expressions on their faces.

Also, many women were seen expressing their own unique world with vivid colors at stencil art workshops applying “cutouts,” which are fascinating with delicate techniques unique to Japanese people.
It was a gorgeous moment, proving that the heart excited by cute things is common all over the world.

Bringing the “real thing” that dwells in the soul of a craftsman to the world! “SPECIAL COLLABORATION -Miyako Meets Japanese Craft Works-”

In parallel with the events introduced so far, Miyako, a Japanese restaurant within one of Dubai's top hotels, Hyatt Regency Dubai, carried out a collaboration project with Susaki City in Kochi Prefecture.

In this project, plates using high-quality wood from “Tosaryu,” which handles first-class wooden products in Susaki City, and knives polished from “Sakoda Cutlery,” can be used in actual kitchens and floors, so that people can experience high-quality manufacturing based on Japanese traditions. Miyako staff praised the functionality and beauty of each item.

Above all, the chef who used Japanese knives, which are hard to get in Dubai, for actual cooking said, “The sharpness is amazing! It's also very comfortable to hold!” They gave us rave reviews.
A fan-shaped “haiku plate” with a pleasant cypress scent is also offered to customers as a large plate for sashimi.

The knives used in this collaboration were also featured on Miyako's Instagram!

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Aim for further development! JAPAN TIDE pursues the future of Japanese culture

2018 was blessed with many new possibilities and fascinating encounters through multiple projects”Japan Tide”. Japan Promotion will continue to actively develop activities in order to further enhance the Japanese culture dissemination business set in the UAE.

Consultations and requests for materials regarding exhibitions are being accepted at any time

In addition to exhibiting and selling art works (calligraphy, Japanese painting, ink painting, etc.), handi