All About Fukuoka – The 10 Years of FAAM Artist-in-Residence Program

Since its opening in 1999, the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (FAAM) has been conducting the Art Exchange Program by inviting artists and researchers from other parts of Asia to stay in Fukuoka for a certain period to engage in art-making and various exchange activities.  Through this program, the people of Fukuoka gain direct access to art and culture from other parts of Asia and can also participate actively in art-making and workshop.

FAAM believes this opportunity will result in broadening and deepening the interest and the understanding of Asian art among the local public.

Moreover, the encounter with the city and people of Fukuoka may generate creative sources for the invited artists.  Various experiences in Fukuoka often lead the artists to produce “site-specific” artworks.

This exhibition features artworks created by the invited artists.  They were made with a focus on the history of Fukuoka and were produced together with the participation of the people of Fukuoka.  Precious videos documenting performances the artists realized in Fukuoka are also being screened in the Art Information Corner outside the gallery.  In this exhibition, we look back the past 10 years of FAAM Artist-in-Residence Program and explore its outcome through the artworks and archive materials.

We hope that this exhibition provides you an opportunity to see “Fukuoka” through the eyes of the artists and discover the charm and potential of the Art Exchange Program.

History of Fukuoka

This section features artworks focused on the history of Fukuoka the artists learned through research and interviews with the people of Fukuoka.  We find facets of the history of Fukuoka through the artworks based on a local folk story or materials left behind from the time of the Pacific War.  Some of the stories are really forgotten in Fukuoka, therefore, the works lead us to realize the importance to learn from the history.

People of Fukuoka

This section shows portraits, photographs and video works in which the people of Fukuoka participated as models.  While life and charm of individual persons living in Fukuoka can be felt through the artworks, the unique characters and presences of each participant work to enrich the artworks.

The Archive of Artist-in-Residence Program (Art Information Corner)

In the Art Information Corner (2_nd venue), the 10 years of FAAM Artist-in-Residence Program is looked back through videos documenting the artists’ performances in Fukuoka and various archival materials of the program.