Join us for a panel discussion where special guests will discuss the issues of freedom of expression, censorship and self-censorship in the arts in Japan, in response to the shutdown, earlier this summer, of the After ‘Freedom of Expression?’ section of the Aichi Triennale. Ironically, this section of the exhibition looked at the history of censorship of artworks in Japan and, although it re-opened during the triennale, the question of censorship remains as the government and city of Nagoya both withdrew previously approved funding.

In this event, Art Action UK 2019 Residency Award winner Satoshi Hashimoto will bring fresh insights from Japan, and sociologist Dr Yoshitaka Mori will share his analysis of the current situation in videoconference from Japan. Hashimoto and artist, curator and writer Morgan Quaintance will then discuss their perspectives on the issues. The discussion will be chaired by Jenny White, head of Head of Visual Arts Programme at the British Council.

Since 2011, Art Action UK has been supporting artists who have been affected by natural and manmade disasters, and many of its artists and associates are directly affected by the shutdown. International artists have stood with local artists; some protested against this censorship by withdrawing their exhibit from the Triennale, while others modified their exhibition by setting up alternative projects and coordinating demonstrations on the street.

Vegan canapés and drinks will be provided by Thenga Café, and this will also be an opportunity to meet and exchange views with Art Action UK artists and other guests.

Art Action UK is a collective of artists, curators, gallerists and writers who are exploring various means to show solidarity and support for artists who have been affected by natural and manmade disasters. The 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami and subsequent Fukushima nuclear fallout has been the catalyst for Art Action UK. AAUK has been awarding artists residency opportunities in the UK and delivering a wide range of events.

Satoshi Hashimoto is an artist, activist, curator and researcher based in Tokyo, and works internationally. Often taking performative and audience participatory approaches, Hashimoto’s practice goes beyond normative understanding of art. He is a member of Artists' Guild (Japan), a social experiment launched by a group of artists as a platform for exploring ways to support artists’ practices in Japan. His recent projects include 198 Methods of Abstract Direct Action, Pie Charts: Everything and Other, The World’ s Three Major Round Things: the Sun, the Moon,the Eye.

Morgan Quaintance is a London-based writer, musician, broadcaster and curator. Born in South London, he is a regular contributor to Art Monthly, and has written for The Guardian, The Wire, Art Review, Frieze, Rhizome.org, and a number of curatorial sites and blogs. He is a contributing editor for E-Flux’s online publishing portal Art Agenda, and was the 2015/16 curatorial fellow at Cubitt Gallery, London. His moving-image work has been shown recently at LIMA, Amsterdam; Cubitt Gallery, London; Jerwood Space, London; the 14th Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival; London Film Festival 2018; and November Film Festival.

Dr Yoshitaka Mori is a sociologist, cultural commentator and writer based in Tokyo. Professor of the Graduate School of Global Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts. He is a co-founder of Art Action UK. His current research includes Pre-Post Olympic Studies, Towards New Theories of Media and Culture in the Post-Media Era: A Comparative Study of Creative Industries in the UK and Japan, and Political Public sphere and nationalism in age of Digital Media. His recent papers includes Lukewarm Nationalism: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Social Media and Affective Communities (International Journal of Japanese Sociology 2019), Toward a New Media Theory (Designing Media Ecology 2018), and New Collectivism, Participation and Politics after the East Japan Great Earthquake (World Art, Routledge / Taylor & Francis 2015).

Jenny White is the Head of Visual Arts Programme at the British Council. Previously as Arts Manager for British Council in Japan she developed projects with independent artists, creative partners and cultural organisations in both the UK and Japan and produced the arts programme for festivals UK90 and UK98. Following postings in Thailand in 2004, and London as Head of Arts Development, researching inclusive design and arts and health, she served as Director of the British Council in Cuba from 2006 to 2009. From 2009 in the UK, Jenny was responsible for developing environmentally sustainable cultural relations for 8,000 global staff. In 2013, Jenny programmed arts and social media content for the volunteer-run Japan400 to mark the anniversary of the first formal encounters between Japan and Britain in 1613. She is a trustee of the Japan Society.

This event is organised by Art Action UK in association with the Japan Society.

Japan Society members: £7 (Please select ‘concession’ when booking) Non-members: £10 Price includes vegan food and drinks

Booking essential – Please book online here