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Autumn is just around the corner, and Tokyo’s art scene is gearing up for one of its biggest nights of the year. Roppongi Art Night returns from October 31 to November 1, turning one of Tokyo’s most dynamic neighbourhoods into a night-long celebration of art. Since launching back in 2009, the festival has become a highlight of Tokyo’s cultural calendar, with visitors invited to discover art installations, performances and multimedia works from sunset through to sunrise.
This year’s programme shines a spotlight on France, featuring works by a selection of exciting French artists. The festival takes place across venues including Roppongi Hills, the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo Midtown and the National Art Center, Tokyo, with artworks and performances also spilling onto the streets and public spaces that connect them.
While the festival can be enjoyed throughout the day, this year marks its first all-night event in three years, with more than 60 artworks and programmes to discover from evening until the following morning.
Looking closer at this year’s programme, highlights include a striking installation by Charles Pétillon made up of dozens of oversized balloons. Titled Wa, the work features two floating circles, each measuring six metres in diameter and formed entirely from white balloons. This piece will be featured at the Roppongi Hills Arena.
Roppongi Art Night has also partnered up with the French Embassy in Japan and Institut Français, bringing some of France’s finest performing arts to Tokyo. The programme includes captivating live performances by Yoann Bourgeois Art Company, featuring trampolines and rotating stage sets at Roppongi Hills Arena. French artistic duo Clédat & Petitpierre will also present The Bathers, a playful performance featuring oversized dolls recreating the scenes of sunbathing and playing on a beach. The Bathers can be found on the first floor of Tokyo Midtown Plaza.
A unique participatory art project by Olivier Grossetête will also take over Roppongi West Park. Titled A Giant Cardboard Architecture Made by Everyone, the work invites visitors to collaborate on building a structure inspired by Japanese architecture using nothing but cardboard and tape.
Keep an eye out as you stroll through Roppongi, with artworks by Japanese and international artists dotted throughout the neighbourhood. Highlights among the public artworks include the vibrant Libido installation by UxU Studio and a colourful neon sign by Taiki Okuyama at Roppongi Crossing.
For more information and to discover the full programme, visit the official website.
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