This article was updated Mar 29.
In a statement to the press Mar 22, Art Fair Tokyo announced it will be postponing its 2011 edition. Scheduled to run Apr 1-3, the fair will not be able to proceed as planned due to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s decision to use the fair venue, Tokyo International Forum, as a shelter for evacuees from the regions affected by the Mar 11 Tohoku Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami.
Currently the largest international art fair in Japan, Art Fair Tokyo features a mix of contemporary art galleries and those representing other genres such as antiques and fine crafts. At a time when cutting edge contemporary art fairs continue to expand across the globe, the fair has struggled to attract top international galleries and collectors, who have been turned away by Japan’s tepid contemporary art market. This year fair organizers were planning to introduce new initiatives to give the event more contemporary relevance, including a special project, “Artistic Practices,” showcasing artists Taro Shinoda and Tadasu Takamine. The fair had also secured a major new sponsorship agreement with Deutsche Bank Group, and signed up 134 participants.
The earthquake, tsunami and ensuing crisis at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant led Tokyo art venues to temporarily suspend exhibitions and programming, although in recent days many of these same venues have announced plans to resume normal operations. Art Fair Tokyo organizers had announced their intentions to use the event as a platform to raise donations for disaster relief in association with the Japanese Red Cross Society. The event has now been rescheduled to run Jul 29-31, with an invitation-only preview Jul 28.