21st Entertainment Division Critiques

The Challenge of Establishing New Value Axes

Last year, I wrote that I found myself wondering if the time for having a distinct entertainment division within Media Arts may have run its course. Beyond doubt, the establishment of "Media Arts" and the existence of "en- tertainment" both possess great energy. However, the issue would seem to be what it means to tie them to- gether and assess them, and what we attempt to derive from that.If artwork that has already gained the approval of many people is commercially successful and called amazing by all, what meaning is there in subsequent praise? However, following repeated and thorough discussions including that issue, offering a value axis that does not strive for singular distillation leaves us with the trial and error and different presentations of the diligent application of "entertainment as Media Arts" and "Media Arts as entertainment" that is occurring in this age. More than what value axis to endorse even if various value axes are being pursued, what roused in- tense discussion was the key point of whether sufficient achievement or persuasive problem presentation were accomplished, or whether the works fail to go beyond questions posed in the previous stage.Last year, I personally felt that I did not fully evaluate several works, but if the achievements and posing of problems truly point to the future, then going forward, that will surely become evident in some shape or form. Jury members strive as much as possible not to over- look that aspect and should push toward demonstration of results, but detection at the germination stage is difficult. At any rate, right now we are witnessing the challenge of establishing new value axes. Discussions on ways of leveraging technology have naturally be- come discussions involving the quality of behavior and human emotion at the time of contact. It goes without saying that the variety and caliber of the submitted works made that possible. I am very much looking for- ward to what comes next.

Profile
SATO Naoki
Art Director and Professor, Tama Art University
Born in Tokyo in 1961. Professor at Tama Art University and instructor at Bigakko. After graduating from the Hokkaido University of Education, he studied the sociology of education and language at Shinshu University, and also studied painting under KIKUHATA Mokuma at Bigakko. In 1994 he became the art director for WIRED magazine's launch in Japan. In 1998 he founded ASYL DESIGN inc. (current Asyl). From 2003 to 2010 he produced Central East Tokyo (CET), an art, design and architecture event. In 2010 he was involved in the establishment of 3331 Arts Chiyoda. His work is included in the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, receiving awards from Japan and overseas. His artwork There, it has grown has been exhibited in Trans Arts Tokyo 2013-, Odate/Kita-Akita Arts Festival 2014, and other locations.