History and Objectives

Kobe has long thrived as a land and sea transport hub and, as one of Japan’s designated international ports, was once a rare and valuable point of interaction with the overseas. These developments gave way to arousing industry, laid the foundations of what would become a unique and varied city, and fostered a singular lifestyle culture. The opening of the Port of Kobe for contact with overseas in the Meiji era (1868-1912) was a particularly significant development, sparking the city’s long history of exposure to and translation of other cultures, and making Kobe a pioneer hub of people, goods and information, which led to a distinct culture of diversity

As the people of Kobe struggled to recover from the disaster of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake of 1995, the city experienced first-hand how art and culture can heal our hearts and minds, encourage us and remind us of the importance of kindness to others.

In light of the city’s history and collective experiences, Kobe made its Declaration of Culture Creation City on the 10th anniversary of the earthquake, and has since made it known to all that Kobe will try to affect the art and culture to promote the city to greater progress and vitality. Part of that effort has been the establishment of KOBE Biennale, a biennial celebration of Art Culture that aims to rally the ability of Art Culture and use it not only to promote art and culture, but also to contribute to the enrichment and environment of Kobe.

Venue: Kobe

Kobe is modern, sophisticated and fashionable' a fascinating mix of new and old. Blessed with the rich verdure of the Rokkô Ranges, the sophisticated flavor of a port town and the cosmopolitan beauty of the old foreign settlement, Kobe is truly a place where old and new interact-little wonder that the city is such a tourist drawcard, attracting many tourists every year. Once again, that scintillating city is set to host its biennial celebration, KOBE Biennale 2011.


The Board of KOBE Biennale 2011

Special Adviser

IKEDA Seiji

Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts 
Chairman, Institute of Environmental Art and Design

Awards
1973
Salon de Printemps Prize
1997
Chernobyl Memorial Art Competition Silver Prize
2001
Exhibition commemorating 90th Anniversary of the Founding of Tsinghua University　Merit Award

Titles
Member of the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation expert committee for the arts
Member of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Council for University Chartering and School Juridical Persons expert committee
Member of the Japan Mint’s Working Group on the Commemorative Coin Designs

Adviser

MINO Yutaka

Director, Hyogo prefectural Museum of Art

Former
Associate Curator, Asiatic Department at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Curator, Oriental Art Department at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Curator, Chinese and Japanese Art Department, Asian Department at the Art Institute of Chicago
Director, Osaka Municipal Museum of Art
Director, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Vice Chairman, Sotheby’s North America

General Producer

YOSHIDA Hiromi
Ikebana Artist
Born in Kobe in 1939, Yoshida has long sought a style of Ikebana that respects the traditions of the art while resisting stereotypes. His broad-ranging ideas have included outdoor exhibitions, demonstrating Ikebana to soul music and lit by candles, as well as an Ikebana block-print featuring photographic collages of Ikebana art, which was well received at galleries in Japan and overseas. Yoshida is internationally renowned, having visited France and Spain, performed Ikebana demonstrations, and exhibited at the Gwangju Biennale (South Korea) in 2004.

Executive Directors

ISHIHARA Kenichirô
Director, Hyogo Parks and Horticulture Association
Director-General, Community Center for Garden and Greenery Promotion
OCHI Yûjirô
Advisor, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
OMORI Masao
Professor, Graduate school of Kyoto Saga University of Arts
TAHO Ritsuko
Professor, Department of Inter Media Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, at Tokyo University of Arts