TOKYO ARTS AND SPACEPRESS RELEASE

2022/1/12

Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2022-2024 winners have been announced!
The Tokyo Contemporary Art Award (TCAA) has been presented to mid-career artists since 2018 toencourage new breakthroughs in their work, both in Japan and overseas.
This year, the six-member selection committee is joined by Nomura Shino and has announced twowinners for TCAA 2022–2024, the fourth edition of this contemporary art award.
The TCAA 2022–2024 award ceremony and symposium are scheduled on 3/20 (Sun).

▮ Winners

TSUDA Michiko

Photo: IIKAWA TakehiroSaeborg

Photo: ZIGEN▮ Award Ceremony and Symposium■Award Ceremony
Date: 2022/3/20(Sun), 14:00-14:30
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, B2 Auditorium (4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo）■Award Symposium
Date: 2022/3/20(Sun), 14:40-16:10
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, B2 Auditorium*Admission Free / Reservations required / First-come-first-served basis / Conducted online streaming(Reservations not required).
*With Japanese-English interpretation.
*Application process and other symposium details will be available on the TCAA website at a later date.
*Subject to alteration according to the state of the COVID-19 infection.

<Press Contact>
Ichikawa (Ms.), Takechi (Ms.), Mizunoya (Ms.) PR section,
Tokyo Arts and Space (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History andCulture)
4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0022
TEL: +81-(0)3-5245-1142 / FAX: +81-(0)3-5245-1154 / E-mail: press@tokyoartsandspace.jp

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2022/1/12▮ Winners’ Profiles and Reasons for the AwardTSUDA Michiko
Born in Kanagawa in 1980. Based in Ishikawa.
Earned her PhD in Film and New Media Studies from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2013.
Recent exhibitions: “The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art,” Queensland Art Gallery andGallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia, 2021, Solo Exhibition “Trilogue,” TARO NASU, Tokyo, 2020,“Inter+Play Season 1,” Towada Art Center, Aomori, 2020, “TOKAS Project Vol. 2 ‘FALSE SPACES’,”TOKAS Hongo, Tokyo, 2019, “Aichi Triennale 2019: Taming Y/Our Passion,” Ito Residence, “Roppongi
Crossing 2019: Connexions,” Mori Art Museum, Tokyo and more.
Awards: “The 20th Japan Media Arts Festival,” New Face Award, Art Division, 2017.
Reasons for the AwardThrough her installations and performances, Tsuda Michiko explores the effect that cameras andscreens have on those who view their subjects and images. Recently, she has embarked on a lecture
performance to highlight hidden gender roles in the films of director Ozu Yasujiro by reenacting andanalyzing the body movements of his characters. This project closely examines nonverbal
communication and prompts reflection on how individuals internalize social conventions, including
images and gestures.
Tsuda is also active in gender studies and social practice education and has an insatiable urge toexperiment with new forms of expression to expand her artistic horizons. As a result, she has built up
an impressive portfolio of works on various topics that interest her.
Both her artistic practice and art are exemplary in how artists invite the public to become self-reflective
and critically aware of the need to participate in systemic change—not just personal transformation—tocreate a mutual understanding in society. In particular, the selection committee recognized theconsistently motivated and inquisitive approach that permeates her work.

1. Tokyo Behavior, 2021, Installation view at “Back TOKYOForth,” Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, 2021
Photo: Akira Arai（Nacása & Partners Inc.）

2. You would come back there to see me again the followingday., 2016-2020, Installation view at “Open Space 2016:
Media Conscious,” NTT InterCommunication Center [ICC],Tokyo
Photo: Tadasu Yamamoto

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2022/1/12

Saeborg
Born in Toyama in 1981. Based in Tokyo.
Graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from Joshibi University of the Arts and Design in 2006.
Recent exhibitions: Solo Exhibition “Cycle of L,” The Museum of Art, Kochi, 2020, Solo Exhibition“SAEBORG: SLAUGHTERHOUSE 17,” Match Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2019, “Aichi Triennale 2019:
Taming Y/Our Passion,” Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, “Twenty Year’s of the TARO Award/Twenty Enfants
Terrible,” Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum, Tokyo, 2017, “Roppongi Art Night 2016,” Roppongi Hills A/Dgallery, Tokyo and more.
Award: “The 17th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art,” Toshiko Award, 2014.
Reasons for the Award
Exploring the possibilities for healthy coexistence between humans and other living organisms is one of
the urgencies that artists in the wake of COVID-19 and ongoing global warming. Since the start of hercareer, Saeborg has pursued the politics of life and emotion that surround the treatment, reproduction,slaughter, and consumption of animals through performances that caricature the relationship between
humans and livestock. Representing ontological questions through brightly colored toy-like latex
costumes and stage, her works leave her audiences feeling disorientated due to the serious subject
matter and bright, casual visuals. At the same time, she reminds her audiences of the innocent cruelty of
those who treat the lives of animals as a commodity. Her works, including public performances in which
she views the physical body as sculpture, are infectiously dynamic and filled with symbolism, provocation,and poignant criticism.
Saeborg also sees the “care” that her performers inevitably require from wearing highly restrictive
bodysuits as a positive thing, questioning our perception of social relationships and challenging
stereotypes of strength and weakness as well as benefactor and beneficiary. Moreover, the selection
committee recognizes Saeborg's longstanding commitment to social inclusion, which is inseparable fromher attitude of respecting all life equally in her artistic practice, as something we can all relate to as westrive to become a society that truly accepts diversity.

3. “Cycle of L” performance at The Museum of Art, Kochi,
2020
Photo: Taisuke Tsurui

4. “Pigpen” performance at DARK MOFO 2019, Avalon
Theatre, Hobart, Australia
Photo: DARK MOFO 20193TOKYO ARTS AND SPACEPRESS RELEASE

2022/1/12▮ Chair of the Selection Committee Comment
As a jury, all of us have taken the process of artist studio visits very seriously. Thanks to the superborganization of TCAA team, both on-site and on-line jury members have a very comprehensive view andunderstanding of each artist’s practice. We listened to the artists with great patience and asked specificquestions in relation to their works and thoughts. These exchanges and deep engagements make thisaward much more than a final outcome of who wins but a meaningful learning experience for the jury
members and hopefully the artists as well.
As usual, the deliberation process is one with careful reflections and reviews of the studio visits. BothJapanese and overseas jury members exchanged candid views about the works of Japanese artists aswell as helped each other understand these works from a different perspective. The discussion was alsomuch more than determining a result, but an in-depth contemplation of the relevance of artistic practices
in a changing global context today.
Carol Yinghua LU (Director, Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum)▮ About TCAA
TCAA was established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo Arts and Space (Museum ofContemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) in 2018 as acontemporary art award for mid-career artists active in Japan whose work, including work developed
overseas, inspires expectations of potential for even greater achievements. Particular importance is given
to the need to provide the best possible support at the optimal time in the artists’ career. The selection
process includes research on the artists and visits to their studios by members of the international
selection committee, to deepen their understanding of the artist’s thinking, style, and career stage.
The winners will receive several years of continuous support, including, in addition to funding for overseas
activities, the opportunity to show their work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and thepublication of a monograph. To enrich the support for artists, from this year we have upgraded the supportfor overseas activities and extended the supporting periods.
Award Details
1）Monetary prize: ¥3,000,0002）Support for overseas activities: Up to ¥2,000,000 (travel, accommodation, research and productionexpenses)
3）An award exhibition to be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (scheduled for March 2024)
4）Publication of a monograph (After holding the Exhibition), support for spread the artists abroadSchedule4TOKYO ARTS AND SPACEPRESS RELEASE

2022/1/12▮ About TCAA 2022-2024
International Selection Committee
Sofía Hernández Chong CUY (Director, Kunstinstituut Melly)
TAKAHASHI Mizuki (Executive Director and Chief Curator, CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile))
Carol Yinghua LU (Director, Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum)
NOMURA Shino (Senior Curator, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery)
WASHIDA Meruro (Director, Towada Art Center)
KONDO Yuki (Program Director, Tokyo Arts and Space)
How the artists were selected
After an open call for applications in June 2021, nominees were selected upon recommendation andmuch deliberation among the selection committee members. The two winners were chosen after a seriesof preliminary screenings and virtual and in-person studio visits and interviews with the artists.

▮ Previous TCAA winners
1st2nd3rdTCAA 2019–2021
TCAA 2020–2022
TCAA 2021–2023

KAZAMA Sachiko
FUJII Hikaru
SHIGA Lieko/ SHITAMICHI Motoyuki/ YAMASHIRO Chikako/ TAKEUCHI Kota

The exhibition of Fujii Hikaru and Yamashiro Chikako, the winners of the 2nd TCAA 2020–2022 will beheld at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art starting 3/19 (Sat).
Please see the TCAA website for more information.

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