I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all involved with this “Shinbism 3” exhibition, where contemporary artists selected by the Shinshu Museum Network exhibit their works.

“Shinbism” began as one of the Nagano Prefectural Artistic Supervisory Team’s projects and originated from ideas proposed by Mr. Kunio Motoe, the late Art Director of Nagano Prefecture, who unexpectedly passed away on the third of June this year. His thinking was that, “The best way to materialize networking among museums is to build up the impartial relationships among curators in Nagano Prefecture, which boasts the largest number of museums nationwide, many having only one curator.”

For the current exhibition, all the people involved, such as the curators of galleries and museums, and those from the Nagano Prefectural Agency for Cultural Promotion, within the prefecture, forming the firm foundation of the Shinshu Museum Network, have given their best to firmly realize this vision entrusted by Director Motoe.

At the last two “Shinbism” exhibitions, artworks by budding young artists of contemporary art connected to Nagano Prefecture, were selected and exhibited per recommendation by the curators from respective museums. However, at this third exhibition, the artists were selected under a new concept of shining a spotlight on those who are considered essential in the postwar contemporary art scene in Nagano Prefecture. This exhibition is being held at four different venues, divided respectively among the four blocks within the prefecture. Works of different artists are exhibited at each venue and programs such as gallery talks or symposiums are planned.

We hope you appreciate the excellent artworks created by the artists associated with Nagano Prefecture and, at the same time, we highly expect this exhibition to become a catalyst for further expansion of art and culture in the prefecture by providing you, the citizens and children of each region, places to learn and a prime opportunity to encounter those artists and curators.

The new era “Reiwa” has begun, which carries the connotation that culture is created among people who have come close together beautifully in their minds. I would like to conclude this message by conveying my wish for the materialization of a “Shinshu overflowing with creativity,” as would result from the enhancement of cultural energy by connecting the minds of artists and curators, including all our citizens, through further facilitation of networking among galleries and museums in the prefecture, with this opportunity of opening the first “Shinbism” exhibition in the Reiwa Era.

The Nagano Prefectural Agency for Cultural Promotion, a general incorporated foundation, in cooperation with the Nagano Prefectural Government set up the Nagano Prefectural Artistic Supervisory Team, where members were involved in the fields of performing arts, music, fine arts and production in 2016, and who are active contributors at the front lines of their respective fields, have been working hard toward the revitalization of all cultural activities in Nagano Prefecture since joining together.

In the meantime, we received great advice and guidance from Mr. Kunio Motoe, the Art Director in charge of Fine Arts for the past three years before passing away on June 3, 2019.

“Shinbism” exhibitions, conceived under the careful planning and supervision of Director Motoe, have already been held twice, concurrently, at four different venues each time in the prefecture where 40 artists, related to Nagano prefecture, have been introduced so far. The objective of this project is not only to introduce you to the excellent artworks created by artists related to the prefecture, but also to continuously enhance our cultural power by facilitating networking among museums through jointly organized projects by the curators in their various regions.

This year, in contrast to the last two, I’ve heard that these contemporary artists, who represent Nagano Prefecture, have been selected after repeated consultations among all members involved since last summer. Their plan is to link this exhibition to “Shinbism 4” scheduled for next year, which may be the culmination of this five-year project. It can indeed be said that the “Shinbism” project is a very symbolic approach among the cross-regional Artistic Supervisory Team’s projects. I hereby expect from the bottom of my heart that all Shinbists, who inherit the vision of director Motoe, the late Director of Fine Arts, will proceed with future projects resolutely from this point on.

I share his vision that Nagano Prefecture must be “The one that creates art and culture.” To achieve this goal, I ask that each art director does his best to secure people possessing the finest talent needed to bear such a responsibility in the future as their ultimate purpose.

Above all, next year will be the best opportunity for us to show our art and culture to a great number of foreigners who are expected to visit Japan on the occasion of the TOKYO 2020 Olympic/Paralympic games. We are geared toward further development so that the efforts of art directors in their respective fields will be integrated organically.

Nagano Prefecture ranks top, nationwide, in number of museums. The promotion of networking among all museums in the prefecture, under the supervision of the Artistic Supervisory Team, will enrich the prefecture with the dynamism of art and culture. Encouraged by its realization, we will move forward to make this prefecture a model case nationwide in terms of the degree of happiness among residents, and also the leading prefecture moving toward the revitalization of Japan through the energy produced by art and culture.

We appreciate your continued support and understanding.

Shinbists’Pledge to Mr. Kunio Motoe

About 20 years ago we started a study meeting with some volunteer members such as curators working at museums in Nagano Prefecture. There are a number of museums and art galleries interspersed in the expansive range of Nagano Prefecture. There were many that had only one curator and no senior with whom he or she could consult, so every day was an experiment in trial and error. In the meantime, however, the growing number of people who shared the same worries and concerns led us to regard this meeting with a light feeling of “Let’s give it a try!”

Although it continued for several years, it was difficult to continue the meeting simply based on individual enthusiasm as a framework without any officially given blessing due to job changes and transfers within the occupations of several members. The meetings came to an end and were left unfinished with only the expectation of “Let’s start again sometime in the future.”

But one day, when our expectation was almost lost in the back of our minds and forgotten, a bright light shone in, suddenly and unexpectedly. It was, coincidentally, at the same time that “Team Shinbism,” launched by Director Motoe, who possessed the strong insistence that “A team is really needed for a director to supervise.”

It was his enthusiasm and deep love for the art produced in Nagano Prefecture and his feeling of regret that the art of Nagano, which had not been fully acknowledged despite its history and extensiveness, that united us once again. With those former days behind us, we became invigorated anew with a very exulted feeling that we could do whatever we wanted due to Mr. Motoe’s vision. His appearance was miraculous!

At the very time when he paved the way to complete the path “Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu would take, that is the Introduction, Development, Turn and Conclusion” of Shinbism 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, the Director, all of a sudden, declared his retirement without any consultation with managers and those involved in his team. We were shocked beyond words.

“As I have told you many times, you are, nevertheless, the leading characters, aren’t you? Why are you so disturbed? It would be a grave mistake if you think you can rely on me forever.” (Motoe, Kunio)

I could not help but feel regret upon hearing him say those words in his usual easygoing, but somewhat aloof tone, though at the same time I felt funny realizing some inexplicable combative spirit was springing out of me.

“Please draw a circle in your head.
The art of Nagano Prefecture is in its center.
The curators make up the circumference of the circle.
Beyond that circumference, who is there? They are the people of Nagano Prefecture.
How can we convey to the people in their prefecture its cultural richness, neatly and properly and with due affection and enthusiasm? The curators need to start their work from this point.
This is the team to materialize this task.
I hope this team becomes a union-like existence to return the beauty of our cultural richness to the people in Nagano, learning and helping each other in a framework of evenly-horizontal connection, without discrimination, but in constructive rivalry.” (Motoe, Kunio) (1)

Of course, our task does not end here, nor will it do next year.

Shinbism will not end as long as Shinbists exist. Let’s make a new start, here, as of today!

• (1)Delivered by the late Mr. Kunio Motoe, then Art Director of Nagano Prefecture, in the press conference room of the Nagano prefectural office building on May 18, 2017 introducing “Shinbism 1.”