Nissan Continues Support of Contemporary Japanese Art

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is a design, engineering and manufacturing company of award-winning automobiles. The company also has a vested interest in many other endeavors, including promoting contemporary art, as evidenced by the company’s announcement of the “Nissan Art Award 2015,” the second installment of the biennial competition that celebrates and supports Japanese artists.

The “Nissan Art Award,” established in 2013 on the company’s 80th anniversary, was founded on the company’s vision of “enriching people’s lives” by providing a stage for deserving Japanese artists to express their passion and creativity and promote a new generation of artistic expression and vibrant arts culture in Japan. The Grand Prix (Grand Prize) of the inaugural event was awarded to Ms. Aiko Miyanaga.

This year, the nomination committee members will select approximately forty artists, from which five will be named as finalists for the Grand Prix. These finalists will be chosen by five international jury members (see below). The artists will then produce new works to be exhibited in an official exhibition this November at BankART studio NYK in Yokohama, during which the Grand Prix winner will be chosen and announced. Different from 2013, the Grand Prix winner will also be awarded a two-month stay in London, where, with the support from the Camden Arts Centre, he or she will receive an opportunity to gain entry into the international art scene and make a significant career step.

“Contemporary art is rich in diversity and full of possibility,” said Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “This award paves the path towards global recognition for Japan’s talented artists. In the belief that their art excites us with great amazement and gives us new insight, the Nissan Art Award again promotes social development with this precious resource of creativity.”

Vision of Nissan Art Award

The Nissan Art Award is a biennial award presented to an emerging generation of Japanese artists to encourage their career, enhance their presence in the international art world and create a social environment where people familiarize themselves with art culture. The award is to celebrate new expressions in Japanese contemporary art and help provoke debate about visual art by selecting creative emerging artists. Through a prolonged commitment, the award can contribute towards outlining a history of Japanese contemporary art and artists focusing particularly on their activities in the past two years.

“Nissan Art Award allowed me to take a big gamble to create larger-scaled installations, which would never have been realized without this great opportunity,” said Ms. Aiko Miyanaga, the Grand Prix recipient of the Nissan Art Award 2013.

Nissan Art Award 2015 Facts

Organized and Sponsored By: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Directed, Coordinated and Exhibition Curated By: Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
In association with: Camden Arts Centre
Exhibition Supported By: BankART1929
Associate Support By: City of Yokohama
Exhibition Period: Saturday, November 14 – Sunday, December 27
Venue: BankART Studio NYK (3-9 Kaigan Dori, Naka-ku, Yokohama)

Artist nomination and first selection
The nomination committee members, who consist of curators, writers and non-profits, will nominate around forty artists in total, living in and out of Japan. (Late in December 2014).

Five international jury members will select five artists for the award, which will be announced on the official website and press release in early June, 2015. All candidates must be a passport holder of Japan.

*in alphabetical order of surnames.

Production and exhibition of new works

The awarded artists will receive a cash award of 1 million yen, produce new works with a provided budget of another one million yen and exhibit in an official exhibition (November, 2015).

Second selection and Award ceremony

The Grand Prix artist is selected by the jury members based on the exhibition in November 2015. Furthermore, the Audience Award will be chosen by the public, and all the winners will be announced and awarded at the ceremony during the exhibition period.

The Award
The five finalists are awarded a prize of 1 million yen each, plus production fee of 1 million yen for making new works and an opportunity to exhibit them at BankART studio NYK in Yokohama.

The Grand Prix artist is awarded the Trophy and a 1 million-yen prize as per all the finalists and an additional 2 million yen, making for a total of 3 million yen. In addition, the Grand Prix winner will receive the opportunity to live in London for two months in the spring of 2016, in association with the Camden Arts Centre. The total value of the Grand Prix award is 5 million yen.

About Camden Arts Centre
Created in 1965, Camden Arts Centre is a place for world-class contemporary art exhibitions and education. With artists at the core of the program, Camden Arts Centre strives to involve members of the public in the ideas and processes of today’s artists, and the artists who inspire them. The year-round program includes exhibitions, artist residencies, talks and events, school and artists’ projects, courses and off-site activities, ensuring Camden Arts Centre remains a dynamic place for seeing, making and talking about art.

Additional information will be made available through the Nissan Motor Company Global Website, on an exclusive web page accessible starting today.(http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/CITIZENSHIP/NAA/)

Blue Citizenship:
Blue Citizenship is the commitment of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. to realize our vision of Enriching People’s Lives. We commit to our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities where we do business to deliver engaging, valuable and sustainable mobility for all. Through our business activities, we aim to create economic value and to actively contribute towards the development of a sustainable society.

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