SAKURA (cherry blossom) has been loved by Japanese people since ancient times, and today it is well-known as a Japanese flower all over the world. "SAKURA Exhibition" to be held in the blooming season of SAKURA is a contest exhibition planned for the purpose of introducing Japanese artists to the world.
"SAKURA Exhibition" has been recognized as a big contest exhibition with hundreds of participating artists and entry works.
The exhibition and a cherry-blossom viewing party are held at a gallery located on the banks of the Meguro which is famous for its SAKURA trees. Afterwards we hold travelling exhibitions at some other places during a long term
In order to realize our purpose of introducing Japanese artists to the world, we have held exhibitions in New York. As a result, some artists got connection with overseas magazines.
For SAKURA Exhibition 2012, we plan active promotion on facebook to show entry works to many foreigners. Furthermore, we also invite foreign splendid artists to participate in our exhibition for worldwide friendship.
Please enjoy our "SAKURA Exhibition 2012."
Refer to http://sakura-ex.info for further information of the past SAKURA Exhibition.
- "SAKURA Exhibition 2009"
- "SAKURA Exhibition 2010"
- "SAKURA Exhibition 2011"
- "SAKURA Exhibition 2009 NY"
- "SAKURA Exhibition 2010 NY"
After "SAKURA Exhibition 2009," a book titled "SAKURA Exhibition 2009" collecting prize-winning works were published and distributed in Design Festa vol.30, gaining public favor.
SAKURA Exhibition is a contest exhibition in which artists can participate by only sending the data of works. A3 poster panels of all the entry works will be made and displayed at the gallery.
In the first SAKURA Exhibition in 2009, 216 artists participated 307 works were displayed. The effect of a lot of works displayed all over the gallery was really overwhelming.
The gallery for the exhibition in Tokyo is located in a famous area for cherry blossom viewing. A SAKURA viewing party was held at the weekend. The gallery and the party room were full of people in the peak hours.
First exhibition in NY in 2009
202 works created by 139 artists were displayed, including tapestries of works winning Grand Prize and Excellent Prize. Visitors were requested to vote for favorite work during the exhibition.
About 100 people came to the opening party in spite of bad weather.
Second SAKURA Exhibition was held in 2010. The exhibition was successfully nice with beautiful scenery of full-blown cherry blossoms which could be seen through the gallery’s windows.
196 works were displayed.
Visitors could enjoy the exhibition comfortably because of more spacious display.
The party room on 1st floor was full of people who enjoyed SAKURA in full bloom.
SAKURA Exhibition 2010 NY was held at “EXCY GALLERY” in the center of Manhattan.
104 works created by 78 artists were displayed.
A lot of people came to the opening party of SAKURA Exhibition 2010.
SAKURA Exhibition was held in the first week of April in 2011.
After the great earthquake in March 2011, many events were cancelled. We also carefully considered cancelling this annual event. However, we decided to go ahead, and held the exhibition with our strong wish to encourage Japan.
The cherry blossoms seen from the gallery’s windows were the most gorgeous ones we had ever seen.
The number of works was approximately 200, being displayed all over the gallery walls.
Foreign artists also started to participate in our exhibition.
Visitors enjoyed trial of painting software "openCanvas," a product of our sponsor portalgraphicsさん. wacomさん also provided a liquid crystal tablet. We would like to express our thanks for their generous cooperation.
The party and the exhibition had been held separately on the first and second floors in the past years, but in 2011 the party was held in the exhibit space.
The room was very much crowded all the time in a cheerful mood.
Management members also could enjoy the party with the visitors for the first time.
A Sakura-viewing party is planned to be held in the same style in 2012.
We had planned to hold the exhibition at Sakura Festival in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture. The festival, however, was canceled because of the great disaster striking the Tohoku region of Japan. So we changed our plan and held the exhibition in Roppongi, Tokyo.
Gallery 12G is a small gallery suitable for a solo exhibition. As we thought all the works could not be displayed at the same time, we planned to divide the exhibition in two periods.
However, we found that all the works could be finally displayed at the same time covering all over the walls. It was really a tremendous sight to see but a very interesting exhibition held for a long period of one month.
The closing party of the exhibition in Roppongi was held in a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere in spite of its small space.
SAKURA Exhibition was held in New York every year from the first exhibition.
In 2011 the exhibition was held in EXCY GALLERY which has big space and nice chandeliers.
Works looked attractive on the white walls.
Works were sold for donation for the Higashi Nippon Great Earthquake.
At first the exhibition had been planned for only one week, but actually it was held for two weeks thanks to EXCY GALLERY’s favor. A lot of people got information from our facebook page and visited the gallery.
We held the exhibition of prize-winning works and had an award ceremony after all the prizes were selected.
Soyoko Shikama won the Grand Prize “SAKURA” for two years running! Please click here for the details of other awards.
Everyone toasted with congratulations and appreciation. Soyoko Shikama won Excellent Prize “Hyacca” in 2009 and Grand Prize “SAKURA” in 2010 and 2011. Some people were heard to make a declaration of beating Shikama while showing their respect for her.
We were glad that we could hold SAKURA Exhibition 2011 successfully in spite of such a great disaster we had last year.
This year SAKURA Exhibition 2012 is to be held in more places and in a larger scale.
We hope you will enjoy SAKURA Exhibition 2012 with us!