This Juried open call exhibition “Stepping Into A World” is the fifth and Times Square Screen Presentation “Stepping Into Times Square” is the sixth installments in a series of shows that aims to collaborate with Emmy Award-winning writer Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato, a renowned curator based in New York known for her expertise in Japanese culture. The overarching goal of this series is to showcase the talent of Japanese and global artists who produce captivating works across various genres and backgrounds, while integrating them into the forefront of the global art scene. By facilitating meaningful interactions and inspiration exchanges between these Japanese artists and leading figures in New York's artistic community, as well as those working internationally, the series aims to foster a dynamic and impactful artistic dialogue.

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The public jurors were Dr. Les Joynes (Research Scholar and Curator, Columbia University), Kenji Tokumitsu (President, Gallery Tagboat), Jun Hanada (President, Ginza Hanada Art), Motoichi Adachi (Emmy Award winning writer) and Kyoko Sato (NY Curator). We will exhibit the selected Japanese artists along with a few New York front rummer artists. 

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"I cut through the art world with the sensibility that has long been active in the world of Japanese television. We want to bring a new wind of free and unrestrained ideas to a world that values old traditions. Beautiful works are beautiful and interesting works are interesting, even if they are not from famous art universities or patronized by influential galleries. We want to let attractive artists run amok in the world. I would like to try an unconventional challenge this time.” 　　—　Motoichi Adachi

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Japan was defeated in World War II, but in the years that followed, many Japanese artists came to New York with dreams of international success. Although the industry has changed in the nearly 80 years after the war, the trend remains the same today. Many of the artists selected for Stepping Into A World II will be exhibiting in New York City, in a space in Soho that was once home to Leo Castelli and other prestigious galleries, and this opportunity will be a big step forward for them. 
The works include paintings, digital prints, and sculptures. Through this exhibition, visitors can receive a general view of what artists working in Japan today are interested in, what they express, and what techniques they use.
Historical masters such as Yasuo Kuniyoshi (who moved to New York in 1910), Yoko Ono (1951), Yayoi Kusama (1957), On Kawahara (1965), Ushio Shinohara (1969), Hiroshi Senju (1993), and Takashi Murakami (2001) also had their first steps and first exhibitions in New York. We cannot help but hope that such world-class artists will be born in the future from the artists in this exhibition.

When artists come to New York and start living here, their style changes with every moment. The international artists in the guest exhibition also have cultural backgrounds from Nigeria, Spain, Detroit, New York and Japan, and you can sense from their works how they were inspired by their own cultural backgrounds.
—   Kyoko Sato