What are the most famous exhibitions of contemporary art in the world? The Venice Biennale? Art Basel Miami Beach?
Japan's art is well represented in each: by artists selected by curators (chosen by the Japan Foundation) in the former; and in the latter by a handful of energetic commercial galleries — some of which have lead the likes of Takashi Murakami to worldwide acclaim. And yet the majority of artists working in Japan devote their time to a system of exhibitions that bring almost no chance of such fame.
"I guess if I had wanted to be famous — like Murakami — I would have courted the commercial galleries when I was young," says 34-year-old artist Atsuhito Bamba (aka Bamba Atsumdo).