The National Center for Art Research (NCAR), as part of our “Invitation Program for Directors/Curators of International Exhibitions,” invited Hallie Ayres, curator of the 14th Shanghai Biennale. During her stay in Japan from July 26 through August 4 in 2023, Ayres made several studio visits to artists she was considering exhibiting at the Biennale and had meetings with relevant researchers. As a result of this research, four Japanese artists were invited to participate in the Shanghai Biennale, which was held from November 9, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
(Please also see the artist interview videos “[Artist Talk #1] Kawaguchi Tatsuo” and “[Artist Talk #3] Sasaoka Yuriko.”

Additionally, Ayres’s research not only facilitated participation in the Shanghai Biennale but also contributed to organizing a screening of films by Japanese artists from Okinawa in April 2024 at e-flux, a New York City-based platform focusing on art criticism, where Ayres is affiliated. The interactions and exchanges that took place during her research stay in Japan are beginning to bear fruit in various ways.

NCAR will continue to invite directors and curators from major international exhibitions to conduct research on the Japanese art scene, with the aim of contributing to the international outreach of Japanese artists and creating various networking opportunities.

Click here for Hallie Ayes's Research Stay Report