First Full-scale Contemporary Art Exhibition in Maldives Breathing Atolls: Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition

The Japan Foundation and National Centre for the Arts will present the first full-scale contemporary art exhibition Breathing Atolls: Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition by Japanese and Maldivian artists at The National Art Gallery of the Maldives spanning from March 20 to April 19. Maldives, which consists of approximately 1,200 large and small islands, is well known for its unique beautiful natural environment formed with coral reef called “Atoll” scattering on the blue sea as if it forms a gentle loop. Read more

Vajrayana coral stone relic boxes, found in North Ari, Thaa and Faafu Atolls, Maldives. C 9th Century CE, Source: maldivesculture.com

An exhibit at Breathing Atolls – 2012

“No Freedom! No Expression”: artists hijack art gallery -

Breathing Atolls, the Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition

Studio Interior, Maafushi, Male Atoll, 2007

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Shop exterior Rasdhoo, Ari Atoll, Maldives, 2008

Rasdhoo Island, located next to Kuramathi Island Resort, Ari Atoll, Maldives

‘Club Faru’ Small souvenir painting (acrylic on ‘stiff cloth’), approx: 10 x 15cm, , sold from the shop in the resort, 2011

Lux* Island Resort Maldives,  (Formerly Ari Beach Maldives), Island Map, 2011

Ali Nishan (Millzero), "the flow," Maldives, 2009.

Breathing Atolls: Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition

First Full-scale Contemporary Art Exhibition in Maldives

March 20 (Tue)–April 19 (Thu), 2012

The National Art Gallery of the Maldives
Sultan Park（Male, Maldives）

www.jpf.go.jp/e/culture/new/1203/03-01.html

The Japan Foundation and National Centre for the Arts will present the first full-scale contemporary art exhibition Breathing Atolls: Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition by Japanese and Maldivian artists at The National Art Gallery of the Maldives spanning from March 20 to April 19. Maldives, which consists of approximately 1,200 large and small islands, is well known for its unique beautiful natural environment formed with coral reef called “Atoll” scattering on the blue sea as if it forms a gentle loop. In spite of its beauty, Maldives has been facing danger of becoming submerged due to sea level rise caused by global warming. At this exhibition, participating artists will produce and show works to focus on natural environment, features and cultures in Maldives through installation, video, architecture, photo and drawings. Japanese artists are planning to conduct on-site research in Maldives prior to the exhibition and wholly observe geographic and cultural environment peculiar to Maldives and people’s lifestyles through exchange with the local people. The works will be exhibited at The National Art Gallery of the Maldives and verdant Sultan Park next to the gallery. Even as the artists give play to their individuality, their artworks will be linked by a common theme, the Maldivian environment. One by one, the works will be unique, like individual islands in an atoll. Together, like a fresh art breeze blowing through the Maldives.

 Organizers: The Japan Foundation, National Centre for the Arts

Curator: Sachiko Namba（I plus N Ltd.）
Artists Terunobu Fujimori, Fujiko Nakaya, Haruka Kojin, Tetsuro Kano, Yukihiro Taguchi, Yodogawa-Technique, Afu (Afzal Shafiu Hassan), Ali Nishan (Millzero)
In cooperation withTateishi Construction Ltd., Nihon Tokushu Kogaku Jushi Co., Ltd., DIY-TOOL.COM, House Clover Maldives

www.jpf.go.jp/e/culture/new/1203/03-01.html

Contact
The Japan Foundation, Arts and Culture Dept., Visual Arts Section Person in charge: Takeda, Murakami, Asaoka

Press contact
Masako Taira
info@tmpress.jp

Detail of Satirical Image; Modern Coup Period; Source; maldivesculture.com

www.maldivesculture.com has published an excellent documentation of the visual culture of the ‘modern coup period’ in the Maldives. It includes serious imagery as well as satirical illustrations and digitally manipulated photos, graffiti, stencil and screen printing.

Visual Culture from the Modern Coup Period, Source; maldivesculture.com