The art fairs Art Busan and Tokyo Gendai are working together to showcase leading Korean and Chinese galleries in the Japanese capital. As part of the collaboration, titled Connect, nine Korean and two Chinese galleries will take part in this year’s edition of Tokyo Gendai, which opens next week (11-14 September) at the Pacifico Yokohama convention centre to the south of the city.
The project aims to support mobility and collaboration for East Asian galleries, to cultivate sustainable cultural exchange, and to promote the international visibility of Korean contemporary art. The partnership is supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service.
“The partnership between Tokyo Gendai and Art Busan represents an important milestone in fostering cross-cultural exchange between two exceptionally dynamic contemporary art scenes,” says Eri Takane, the director of Tokyo Gendai. “We are proud to be creating a platform for meaningful discourse about the future of art in the wider region.”
The Connect project showcases a dynamic array of established and emerging galleries throughout various sectors. Johyun Gallery, Gana Art, Gallery Baton and The Columns Gallery are participating in the Galleries sector; The Page Gallery, ShanghART, PYO Gallery in the Eda Branch sector; and EM Gallery, THEO, VODA Gallery and BANK are joining Hana Flower sector. The installation exhibition sector, Sato, will present Kim Taek Sang from Johyun Gallery.
As well as the presentations in the fair, six Korean galleries will take part in a collaborative exhibition programme at the Terrada Art Complex in Tokyo, during Tennoz Art Week (10-15 September). The programme is designed to bring the distinct voices of Korea and Japan into dialogue and features the work of artists Kim Hongjoo, Lee Bae, Kim Taek Sang, Song Burnsoo, Huh Myoung Wook, Moonassi, Hwaran Cho, JEJn and Yuki Saegusa.
“The presentation at Terrada Art Complex perfectly embodies the spirit of cross-cultural dialogue we aim to champion,” says Seokho Jeong, the director of Art Busan. “It is more than an exhibition—it’s a statement of shared vision across borders.”
Jeong and Takane will also join in a talk with Shuyin Yang, director of the Art SG fair in Singapore, to discuss collaborative ways to expand interactions across the region (14 September at Tokyo Gendai).
This year’s third edition of Tokyo Gendai has moved to September, from its previous slot in July. The next Art Busan, its 16th edition, will take place in May 2026, and will continue the cross-cultural exchange initiative of the Connect project.
•Tokyo Gendai, 11-14 September, Pacifico Yokohama (11 September, Vernissage)
•Tennoz Art Week, 10-15 September, Terrada Art Complex (10 September, Preview)
