In the 15th International Architecture Exhibition, the Japan Pavilion, organized by the Japan Foundation and curated by Yoshiyuki Yamana, has been awarded a Special Mention.
The exhibition at the pavilion, titled en: art of nexus and divided into three themes, introduces the practices of young Japanese architects who are striving to create new values in contemporary Japan following the decline of rapid economic growth in the country. The exhibition sheds light on these architects who are earnestly confronting a variety of events and issues currently facing Japan, and carefully working to maintain links that are in danger of being lost and cultivating connections that are now unseen.
During the preview period prior to the opening of the biennale, the Japan Pavilion proved to be extremely popular with a host of visitors and those associated with other national pavilions, including the President of Singapore.
At 11:00 (local time) on May 28, 2016, this year’s awards were announced to coincide with the official opening of the biennale. Among the recipients was the en: art of nexus exhibition at the Japan Pavilion, which was awarded a Special Mention. This was the first time since the Venice Biennale’s 55th International Art Exhibition in 2013 that the Japan Pavilion received a Special Mention (artist: Koki Tanaka). In the past, Arata Isozaki and Toyo Ito received Golden Lion Awards for their exhibitions in the Japan Pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition.