ITOCHU Announces New Exhibition at ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE “MAZEKOZE ART 3: Collaboration as a theme” to be held from March 11

February 13, 2017

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 Headquarters, in October 2012, aspiring to encourage the next generation, contribute to the community and promote art and culture in Japan and abroad as part of its social contribution activities. A number of exhibitions have since been held in the space.

The general incorporated association Get in touch (Chizuru Azuma, Representative) is an organization that conducts ongoing PR activities with the objective of raising awareness of all minority areas where people are dealing with an affliction in life. ITOCHU supports the purpose of the MAZEKOZE ART exhibitions organized as a part of the association’s activities based on the concept of a “MAZEKOZE Society” (jumbled up society) in which anyone live in a manner true to themselves. Accordingly, ITOCHU has provided exhibition space free of charge each year since 2015.
This year’s exhibition, titled “MAZEKOZE ART 3: Collaboration as a theme” will be held from March 11, the date of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and will incorporate the sentiments of “never forgetting the earthquake” and “continuing to support the disaster-affected regions.”
The activities of Get in touch were kicked off in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. “When society plunges into a state of unease, minorities become increasingly embattled.” With these circumstances unfolding before their eyes, various groups, companies and individuals connected through a shared desire to “live in a society that accepts everyone,” and out of this, the “MAZEKOZE Society” concept was born.
Based on the theme “this year is collaboration!”, this year’s exhibition will showcase art from artists with disabilities, collaborative products from fashion makers and companies, and works derived from original design drawings.

—Someone forging a link with another, a company connecting with an individual,
a brand identifying with the art of a person with a disability—
Establishing links with society rather than severing them.

We have assembled a selection of special works produced by these happy encounters.
The excitement of making a connection, the thrill of forging links, and the possibilities of something new beginning as a result... 
We encourage everyone to visit and experience a barrier-free future.

Exhibition Outline

Title MAZEKOZE ART 3: Collaboration as a theme
Sponsor General incorporated Association, Get in touch
Co-sponsor ITOCHU Corporation
Period Saturday, March 11, 2017 to Wednesday, April 5, 2017 (open every day during the event period)
Venue ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE
CI Plaza B1, 2-3-1 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL & FAX: 03-5772-2913
Website http://www.itochu-artsquare.jp/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itochu.aoyama.art.square

Exhibition image

Exhibition image

A wide variety of events including the MAZEKOZE Fashion Show featuring minorities as models and a talk to mark six months after the Sagamihara stabbings are planned.

ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE