'Art Autonomy Network' initiated in Yokohama

'Art Autonomy Network ' started operations from a small office and archive space in Yokohama in May 2005. Initiated by four Directors including Emiko Kato, formerly of Rice + alternative space in Mukoujima, AAN seeks to act as a meta support organisation for alternative art groups and artists in Japan and beyond. Among their activities is a publicly accessible archive, round table discussions, regular video screenings and study circles. They are seeking art documentation and archive materials related to alternative art activities in Japan and abroad.
AAN is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and The City of Yokohama. Indeed, Yokohama city has recently been pursuing a policy of nurturing cultural sector activities in its region. The Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music recently opened a film school in a disused bank building in Yokohama headed by enigmatic Director Kitano Takeshi, Asahi Beer has been supporting a range of small scale alternative art activities in Yokohama and Bank Art Space opened last year in another old renovated bank building. Added to this is of course the ongoing saga of The Yokohama Triennale, which begins September 28th 2005. It is interesting that Yokohama is now strongly emphasising itself as a city of culture, a political tendency that is being emulated by many smaller regional governments around Japan now, to varying degrees of success. Tokyo, a city heavy with people and resources, tends to remain largely aloof in terms of supporting younger, experimental art activities (Tokyo Wondersite being the only initiative).
I feel that 'networking' was a buzzword amongst art spaces and groups during the 1990s - I have attended various symposia and workshops which purported to extend networks between alternative spaces and individuals, and invariably they repeat similar patterns - there is usually no concrete funding to back up any networking in terms of establishing communication systems or people exchanges, and networking easily becomes another term for making presentations about what has been done by various groups. This is important, but I feel that it is also necessary to re-think what 'networking' can be.  The question of  'whose network?' is also one to bear in mind.  Networks comprise different groups, agendas, scenes and intentions - it is worth remembering that nets are also full of holes, gaps and funnels that simultaneously let things pass and bring them together.

Comments

[jong pairez]

hello,

i am a migrant from Philippines and i've been doing works of art that has something to do with the concept of time and space displacement. it is related to me as a person who travel from one border to another, obviously far different from a tourist.

the exact word is Nomad- a traveller seeking green pastures. but i dont use my art to sell, i work as i janitor here in Tokyo and my art is my own way of sustaining my sanity.

in this concern, i would like to inquire if AIT and other independent art spaces in Japan like the AAN accepts migrant artists from the third world in helping them out put up an exhibition?

i've been exhibiting my works back in the Philippines in an artist-run art spaces, not until i came here in Japan to work as a migrant worker.

i am completing a body of collage works packed in a sandwich zip lock for future exhibition. but recently, i did a group show with a japanese friend who owns a record shop in shinjuku area- not exactly an art space. we showed some stencil prints.

can AIT and AAN help migrants like me show their works here in Japan?