A discreet collector associated with the family that controls one of the world's most prominent luxury brands is teaming up with a Japanese actor and a Berlin-based cultural entrepreneur to open a new art space and platform in Tokyo, championing art African contemporary. Does this sound like an unlikely combination?
Not for collector Edna Dumas, who is part of the Dumas family, which has a major stake in French luxury brand Hermès. A passionate supporter of contemporary African art and artist, Dumas launched Space Un, a new art and culture platform dedicated to promoting contemporary African art and cultural exchange between Japan and African countries, while supporting African artists. The space is scheduled to open on April 20 in Tokyo.
“The idea to create Space Un came from understanding the importance of creating a unique platform both in Japan and the wider Asian region to give visibility to Contemporary African Art and create a bridge between cultures,” Dumas said in a statement.
Dumas is joined by two co-founders, actor and artist Yuta Nakano and Lothar Eckstein, an entrepreneur based in Berlin who has worked in the areas of media, social media and e-commerce.
Space Un is a hybrid art platform that consists of the elements of a commercial gallery while also featuring public engagement programs and an artist residency. It is planning to hold a mix of four to six sales shows and non-commercial shows per year. Interdisciplinary public programs ranging from artist lectures, workshops, musical and film events, as well as educational activities and readings, will also take place in the space.
The platform's inaugural exhibition is the result of the residency program recently established by Space Un, launched this month. Four artists per year will be invited to participate in the residency, held at the Yoshino Cedar House, designed by Hasegawa and Taichi Asai and located in Yoshino, Nara. The artists will then have the opportunity to showcase their resulting works at the Tokyo outpost. The exhibition opening in April, titled “Anastomosis”, will present a new series of works by Senegalese artist Aliou Diack, born in 1987, created during his three-week residency.
“There are many similarities between Senegal and Japan. I think, above all, we share this true appreciation for the Earth, a true recognition and gratitude for everything it gives us,” Diack said in a statement.
Source: Artnet News