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The winners of the awards from the 18th Japan Media Arts Festival were announced last year on Nov. 28. The award-winning works were on display at the National Art Center Tokyo this year from Feb. 4–15. The exhibition featured a wide variety of works ranging from futuristic gadgets to nostalgic manga.
The Japan Media Arts Festival has four divisions: art, entertainment, animation, and manga. The best works from each division were selected to be featured at this Media Arts Festival. The spotlight was on upcoming genres such as social media and animation that have grown remarkably in recent years, outstripping traditional art. This 18th Japan Media Arts Festival had 3,853 artwork entries from 71 countries and regions, with 1,818 of those being from abroad.
The free exhibition was full of artwork that expressed the creators’ unique styles and the progress of technology. An official of the festival stated, “Although the works are divided into four divisions, there’s no rule about which division you must apply to. Just because it’s a music video, it doesn’t mean you have to enter under the entertainment division. The applicants can decide which division they want their artwork to be judged in.” The creators’ wishes come first in the Japan Media Arts Festival.
“This festival examines each artwork across all divisions, regardless of whether it’s made by a professional or an amateur. We welcome all entries from abroad. We, as well as the judges, really look forward to meeting young talented artists, so please consider entering,” stated a Festival representative. The festival entry period usually starts every July. For all you artists looking for a challenge, why not give it a try?
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
