Yoshihiko Tanji Exhibition : Unfolding Memories 2 ー Archive
January 31, 2026 – April 11 May 9, 2026
This special exhibition features the works of TANJI Yoshihiko, Professor in the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Niigata University and Former Director of the Niigata University Asahimachi Museum. Drawing on the imaginative power of art, Professor Tanji has carried out numerous art projects in collaboration with local communities. This exhibition showcases models and sketches of the works he presented at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, along with documentation of his interactions and communication with the people of the region.
【Comment by TANJI Yoshihiko】
In my creative practice, the question of “where and how an expression takes place” is of utmost importance. I listen closely to the histories and daily lives of the people who live in each place, shedding light on them through artistic expression and making their essence visible.
Since 2005, I have worked together with the residents of the Kowaki community in Tōkamachi City as part of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, developing various “events” and “objects” at the former Kowaki Branch School of the old Senda Elementary School—an endeavor that continues to this day. In addition, since 2001, I have been involved in Uchi no DE Art, a project launched through collaboration between the university and the local community, where we exchanged ideas with residents and translated the results into expressions that took shape within the town.
Although each of these initiatives unfolded dynamically, I hoped to perceive them not merely as “objects,” but as processes through which the site itself transforms. While the act of expression is certainly central, I placed the greatest emphasis on the creative process—questioning what it means to open new possibilities for both artistic expression and education.
This exhibition at the Niigata University Asahimachi Museum aims to serve both as a report on these projects and as a form of archival documentation.
TANJI Yoshihiko
Professor, Niigata University, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences. / Former Director, Niigata University Asahimachi Museum.
Affiliated with the Department of Art in the Faculty of Education.
Research focuses on the contemporary art.
His research centers on the practice of art projects, particularly workshops conducted in local communities, hospitals, and various public institutions. He places a strong emphasis on fostering meaningful “relationships and interactions” within each specific site, and has developed numerous projects grounded in this approach. His major exhibitions and projects include participation in the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, the Water and Land Niigata Art Festival, the Setouchi Triennale, Uchi no DE Art, the Niigata City General Hospital Art Project, as well as many other art initiatives.
Overview
Period
January 31, 2026 – April 11 May 9, 2026
Venue
Niigata University Asahimachi Museum
(2-746 Asahimachi-dori, Chuou-ku, Niigata 951-8122)
Opening Hours
10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 4:30 pm
* Closed at 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Closed
Sundays and Mondays
Credit
Organized by : Niigata University Asahimachi Museum