After a year of waiting, the Tokyo Olympics will finally officially open tomorrow! To celebrate this international event, the city of Tokyo specially presents the “OLYMPIC AGORA” exhibition, showcasing a series of art installations themed around the Olympics, as well as collecting a rich collection of torches, medals, opening ceremony costumes, and other items from past Olympic events. The exhibition is also open for online viewing, allowing audiences from around the world to participate!
When sports, art, and culture come together, this exhibition not only allows people from all over the world to have a deep understanding of the Olympic spirit, but also unites international audiences to experience the enthusiastic atmosphere of the Olympics together!
The “OLYMPIC AGORA” will be held in the historic Nihonbashi area of Tokyo, led by the Art and Culture Department of the International Olympic Committee (OFCH). The inspiration comes from ancient Greek public gathering spaces or markets, with the original intention of creating a platform that brings people together. The exhibition is divided into six main themes, with sincere content that includes various public art installations, diverse cultural projects, and displays of Olympic historical artifacts. Let’s introduce them one by one.
French artist Xavier Veilhan created a permanent installation interpreting Olympic values, the life-size sculpture “The Audience” is composed of five figures of different ages, genders, and nationalities, painted in the colors of the Olympic rings. The artist focuses on non-heroic figures to highlight the importance of the public, symbolizing audiences from different nations coming together at the Olympics. They come together to embody the concept of a small “world village.”
The large steel mesh sculpture “Human potential, determination, solidarity and hope” created by a Japanese artist, with two runners passing a relay baton representing a united image, contains subtle thoughts of passing on Olympic values to the next generation. “Podium memories” is an interactive experiential installation that resembles an Olympic podium, displaying rare images, animations, and audiovisual clips related to the Olympics whenever someone approaches the podium. “What is the joy of the future” is a series of art photographs capturing everyday life through the lens, showcasing that the Olympic spirit has always existed in the communication between people.
In addition, “The Olympic Spirit” special exhibition showcases 145 artifacts from the collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, divided into three main sections: “History and Culture,” “The Power of Sports,” and “Hope Brought by Sports.” In addition to seeing Olympic medals and torches from past years, visitors can also admire selected costumes from previous opening ceremonies, witnessing the rich history and tradition of the Olympics.
In the artist residency project, five Olympic athletes and one Paralympic athlete collaborated to create the “Noren Curtains” project, with the Olympic spirit as the theme, making different styles of door curtain fabric. The images highlight the values of excellence, friendship, and respect, and the finished products are placed in the underground passage in front of Mitsukoshi, where passersby can see them. Agora Café is located in the Mitsui Tower in Nihonbashi, with many selected Olympic photos and videos hanging inside, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
This large Olympic medal was created by Junichi Kawanishi, representing the relentless spirit of athletes. The artist spent two years organizing and collecting old electronic products from all over Japan, melting the metal to create this installation. The medal quickly became a popular check-in spot, and the environmental concept behind it added another layer of meaning to the work.
Although foreign tourists are unable to visit in person due to the pandemic, audiences from all over can still witness the charm of the Tokyo Olympics through live broadcasts and online virtual exhibitions. This event showcases the cultural significance of the Olympics and promotes the integration of sports and arts. Despite the challenges faced by the Tokyo Olympics, it has unexpectedly led to many online experiential activities, which have not hindered the promotion of the Olympic spirit! You are welcome to experience this international event through online tours and feel the excitement together.
Image source and learn more: OLYMPIC AGORA
