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Top Foreword |
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Commissioner’s Address I am sincerely delighted to have the privilege of collaborating with the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum for the exhibition Japan Media Arts Festival in Istanbul 2010 in celebration of the Japan Year 2010 in Turkey. We hold this exhibition for the purpose of presenting Japanese media arts across the world, including the award-winning works of the Japan Media Arts Festival. This is a comprehensive annual festival which has been hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. This exhibition held here today in Istanbul is the fifth international one outside Japan. Japanese media arts works such as manga, animation, games and interactive art have garnered widespread popularity in many countries in recent years, and have become a crucial factor in helping people all over the world develop an awareness of contemporary Japanese culture. In accordance with its two themes – Narrative Mind and Creative Mind –, we would like the audiences to experience unique Japanese expressions as well as the new worlds that emerge from their fusion with advanced technology. We also have workshops and symposiums in addition to the exhibition and screenings. I hope these events will further energize the exchange between Japan and Turkey. The Agency for Cultural Affairs recently held an exhibition entitled 5,000 Years of Japanese Art at the Topkapı Palace where carefully selected paintings, sculptures, craft works, and other items that are highly representative of Japanese art over 5,000 years from the Jomon Period to the Edo Period were presented. In addition to exhibiting invaluable Japanese cultural heritage, it is my great pleasure to introduce contemporary Japanese culture here at the Pera Museum. We are most glad to take part in creating this opportunity to enrich the understanding of Japanese culture for the people in Turkey who have been our friends for 120 years. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone in Japan and Turkey for their tireless efforts in organizing this innovative exhibition in Istanbul. KONDO Seiichi |
