The Tokyo Biennale 2023, held during the summer period (public project process) from July to September and the fall period (exhibition of results) that opened on September 23, 2023, came to a close on November 5.

We are very grateful to the many people who visited the festival during its four-month run. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all visitors, participating artists, Citizens Committee, area directors, sponsors and supporting organizations, and volunteers who were indispensable to the operation of the Biennale. We will continue to report to you on the results of this year's event through publication of the catalog and other materials and will continue our activities to make the most of this event and connect it to the next.

General Non-Profit Incorporated Organization Tokyo Biennale

From the General Directors

Tokyo Biennale 2023 has come to a close after a four-month run. We are very pleased that so many people visited the festival, and we feel that we were able to open new possibilities for "An International Art Festival Originating in Local Areas of Tokyo."

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the artists and participating members who were involved in the realization of the festival, to all the visitors, and to all the individuals and organizations who cooperated and supported us.

The theme of the second festival was "Create Linkage." We aimed to create a place to feel and think about the "linkages" between people, communities and the environment including living creatures, society, history, and various other things. This theme was born, in part, from the impact of Covid-19 on society at the time of the previous 2021 Biennale. It brought unprecedented restrictions to our lives and at the same time highlighted or accelerated some of the social issues that were already present but difficult to see. What kind of "linkages" can we rediscover or create now?

The various attempts at "Linkage" undertaken by the participating artists and members of the group provided us with an opportunity to think together about our "connections" from a very broad and diverse perspective that is not limited to this background. The various ways in which linkages were conducted were intertwined, including elements of excellent visual art and elements of relationships generated by the activities. We would also like to add that it was a great pleasure for us to be able to re-invite several overseas artists who were unable to participate in the 2021 residency due to Covid-19.

It would be a great satisfaction for us if the festival was able to nurture some diverse and rich linkages within every one of you. In that sense, this festival will continue to be a part of our daily lives even after the event closes. "Creating Linkage" was not only the theme of this year's festival, but is also an ongoing major goal of the Tokyo Biennale. We look forward to seeing you again in Tokyo in two years.

Masato Nakamura, Min Nishihara
General Directors, Tokyo Biennale 2023