This year's Tokyo Biennale is its most ambitious yet, featuring 39 artists from Japan and abroad under the theme 'Wander for Wonder.' Artworks are integrated into everyday Tokyo spots, many viewable for free. The event runs until December 14.
The Tokyo Biennale has been held sporadically under slightly different names since the 1950s as an exhibition, with its most recent iteration relaunched in earnest in 2021. This year marks its most ambitious edition, with 39 participating artists from Japan and abroad creating works under the theme “Wander for Wonder,” encouraging visitors to stroll through Tokyo neighborhoods.
The two main venues are the unassuming Etoile Kaito Living Building, a wholesaler structure in Bakurocho, Chuo Ward, and Toeizan Kanei Temple in Ueno. These are the only ticketed sites, while most other artworks are placed mural-like around central Tokyo and viewable for free until the biennale ends on December 14.
Approaching the Etoile Kaito Living Building involves a sense of adventure, heading down back alleys toward a single signboard reading “Tokyo Biennale.” Neighborhoods for wandering include Nihonbashi, Ueno, Kanda, and Suidobashi, blending art seamlessly into the urban landscape.