Since ancient times, Gifu Prefecture has been blessed with lush natural surroundings, and clear waters nourishing the region’s abundant resources of water, earth and forest. Our forefathers built on these gifts of nature to hone their skills in what came to be widely known as Hida woodcraft, Mino washi paper, Seki cutlery, Tono pottery and other forms of craftsmanship. In addition, the Takayama, Furukawa and Ogaki Festivals, designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties, as well as the more than 1,000-year-old cormorant fishing, demonstrate how the local traditions are very much alive even today.
Always eager to create something new, through their relentless efforts our ancestors have turned these cultural and technical assets into regional traditions, which in recent years have formed the groundwork also for the training of personnel in the IT field, and other advanced technical endeavors.
In April 2017, Gifu Prefecture hosts the “Art Award IN THE CUBE 2017” as an innovative exhibition of works by the general public, with the aim to discover and foster imaginative young talent. Staged in the “limitless microcosm” of a 4.8 x 4.8 x 3.6 meter cuboid space, this first installment of the exhibition on the theme of ”Whereabouts of the Body” encourages artists to make free and unrestricted use of this spatial setting for the production and exhibition of their own unique creative work. By accepting submissions from any genre, and by creators of all ages, we aim to make this a triennial event that conveys an international vision and contemporary air to both artists and audiences.
We are looking forward to receiving submissions from artists in all parts of Japan, and hope that the droplet created here in Gifu will grow into a stream, and ultimately form an ocean that spreads across the globe to communicate the new charm and vigor that “Gifu Land of Clear Waters” is going to be charged with.