Tokyo 2020 Official Art Posters Complete Exhibition Held at Museum of Contemporary Art

The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture will hold the "Tokyo 2020 Official Art Poster Exhibition" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in Koto Ward starting January 7. The exhibition will showcase all 20 posters created by 19 artists from Japan and abroad on the theme of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The creation of official art posters is one of the requirements stipulated in the Host City Contract.

At the opening ceremony held the day before the public opening, Governor Yuriko Koike stated, "We are now 200 days away from the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. As preparations accelerate from here on, we are entering a phase where we must also focus more on building momentum. I expect this poster exhibition to contribute significantly to that effort." She added, "Each work has its own story, and the anticipation for the Olympics and Paralympics is expressed through art, helping to build excitement." She also expressed her aspirations, stating, "The question is what legacy the Games will leave behind. While they are a festival of sports, we also want to emphasize their aspect as culture emanating from Tokyo."

Toshiro Muto, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, stated, "The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a festival of sports, yet they transcend that, influencing culture, art, education, and more. The Games' posters will remain as enduring symbols of Tokyo 2020. We would be delighted if they contribute to building excitement for the Games."

Motoyuki Oka, Director of the museum, commented, "It is an honor for our museum, which has focused on contemporary art while covering a wide range of genres and themes and communicating them both domestically and internationally, to be able to present the official art poster." Masayoshi Aoyagi, Chair of the Artist Selection Committee, said, "In keeping with the times, which demand diversity in values and sensibilities, we held extensive discussions to select artists appropriate for this era. We chose individuals active in various fields, including photographers, manga artists, architecture, and design. Each of the 20 works expresses their own wonderful individuality and creativity."

Subsequently, artists involved in creating the posters commented on the concepts behind their works. These included manga artists Hirohiko Araki and Naoki Urasawa; calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa; photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa; and artist Asao Tokolo, who designed the official emblem for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The exhibition, held in the museum's entrance hall, runs until February 16. The works are displayed within spaces created by square frames, expressing the diverse roots, countries, cultures, and differing ideologies of each artist.
Official licensed merchandise featuring motifs from each art poster is scheduled for release in March.

Official website:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/games/artposter/