Kari CONTE

• TOP >
• Archives >
• Residency Program >
• Kari CONTE

Kari CONTE

Participating Project	Curator Residency Program
Activity Based	New York and Turkey (wide area)
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2024.10 - 2024.11

Purpose of the residency

In Tokyo, I will continue my decade-long interest in and support for Japanese contemporary art more substantially than I have been able to before, as my four past visits have been brief. At ISCP, I curated the first solo exhibitions in the Americas of leading Japanese artists Hikaru Fujii in 2018 and Ishu Han in 2015. I also exhibited the work of Japanese artist Shimabuku in New York for the first time as part of the group exhibition "The Animal Mirror" and brought the artist from Okinawa to give a lecture on his work, with support from The Japan Foundation. In 2013, I curated the exhibition "Fieldwork" for the "Aichi Triennale," which included research-based art projects that considered the urban transformation of Nagoya. I am excited at the prospect of continuing this work with Japanese artists as part of the Tokyo Arts and Space residency.

Plan during the residency

• Studio visits with Tokyo Arts and Space residents, and artists in Tokyo with a research emphasis on upcoming triennial I am curating
• Meetings and visits—Tokyo art institutions
• "Art Collaboration Kyoto" visit
• "Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama" visit
• Giving public lectures at TOKAS Residency

Activities during the residency

During my TOKAS residency, I attended over 25 exhibitions in Tokyo and visited the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2024” in Niigata. I met with more than 12 curators and institutional leaders and conducted 15 artist studio visits. I also presented two lectures at TOKAS and organized an installation by artist Fatma Bucak for the OPEN STUDIO in November 2024. Additionally, I reconnected with several artists I had collaborated with previously. The chance to engage with their practices in person and gain updates on their work proved invaluable.

Outcome of the residency

The research I conducted during my residency has already laid the groundwork for future projects. I have initiated conversations with two artists I encountered in Tokyo about collaborating on an exhibition that I am curating in 2026. Since returning to New York, I’ve had numerous Zoom meetings with artists and curators in Japan to continue building these connections.

Creator Information