The Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Triennale

Since it was created in 2000 by Fram Kitagawa, head of the Art Front Gallery in Tokyo, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Triennale has invaded almost 200 villages in Japan, each time to give a new lease of life to the agricultural region of Niigata, a victim of urban migration. Over 350 projects are presented over 51 days by artists from all over the world. For the 2018 edition, the headliner of the event was Tunnel of Light, a restoration of the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel undertaken by architectural studio MAD Architects.

The works are exhibited across the region’s six municipalities. It’s a way of linking cultural activities with discovery of the local culture, Niigata prefecture being Japan’s main rice-growing region. In the long term, the population in these areas may increase, similarly to the momentum created by the Setouchi triennale, where schools, restaurants, and galleries have opened their doors on certain islands.

More information on the next editions of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Triennale can be found on its website.