ITOCHU Announces New Exhibition at ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE Under the Tree Charity Exhibition: The Story of Ban Rom Sai 15 Years in the Village of Namprae, Northern Thailand― It all started with Art

October 6, 2014

ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza, a commercial facility situated next to ITOCHU’s Tokyo Head Office, in October 2012. The gallery was part of ITOCHU’s social contribution activities, with the aim of developing the next generation through art, contributing to the local community and promoting both local and overseas art and culture. Various exhibitions have since been held in the space.

ITOCHU will hold “Under the Tree Charity Exhibition: The Story of Ban Rom Sai; 15 years in the Village of Namprae, Northern Thailand ― It all started with Art” for two weeks from Monday, December 1, 2014, which is World AIDS Day.

Ban Rom Sai was established in the village of Namprae in northern Thailand in 1999 as an orphanage for children afflicted by AIDS. It marks its 15th anniversary this year.

Since it was found that drawing pictures has a positive impact on children’s immunity, Ban Rom Sai has valued the importance of creativity. Its children have been supported by not only medicine but also the cooperation of a great many people and the joy of creating works, and have developed a zest for life and living up until today. In an effort to operate the home independently, the ‘creative spirit’ has developed into many forms, including a sewing workshop and a guesthouse, and has led to the development of a system for supporting children and people experiencing difficulties through purchases and stays by the general public.

This new exhibition will look back on Ban Rom Sai’s 15-year history through art, a panel exhibit and films. We hope you will come to the exhibition and share the fun of creativity discovered by the children, and the energy generated from the enjoyment.

Outline of the Plan

Title Under the Tree Charity Exhibition: The Story of Ban Rom Sai
15 Years in the Village of Namprae, Northern Thailand ― It all started with Art
Sponsor NPO Ban Rom Sai Japan
Cosponsor ITOCHU Corporation
Support Shochiku Co., Ltd., HowFull’s, Kids Monster Limited
Collaborators daVinci Inc., and others
Period

Monday, December 1 to Sunday, December 14, 2014

(Open every day during the event period; free admission)

Opening hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Venue

ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE

CI Plaza B1F, 2-3-1, Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061;

Tel:03-5772-2913

URL

About Ban Rom Sai

Ban Rom Sai was established as an orphanage for children afflicted by AIDS in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1999. 30 children aged 3 to 18 live together under the philosophy of providing not just an orphanage, but “a big family home” for the children. Some of the children contracted HIV from their parents. In the first three years after its establishment, 10 children developed full-blown AIDS and died. However, antiviral drugs then became available, and all of the children now have the chance to grow up and be healthy. Currently, AIDS orphans and children experiencing difficulties who have lost their homes for various reasons live in the facility. Please visit the website for details: http://www.banromsai.jp