Johnnie Walker, a self-declared champion of the avant-garde, has made big strides through the Tokyo art scene. For many years Walker, through his foundation Za Moca, has made it his purpose to support artists in various ways, from monthly parties to celebrate artists exhibiting in Tokyo, through accommodation for visiting artists, to exhibition and performance space. The artists Za Moca promotes range from the very famous such as Gilbert and George and Yayoi Kusama, to brilliant but relatively unknown artists like Jack McLean and butoh performance group Salvanilla, both of whom have also performed at major international gatherings in Britain and America at Za Moca-sponsored events.

A banker by trade, Walker does it all for love and to continue his family's tradition as patrons of contemporary art. A seemingly endless source of information about Tokyo art happenings, he is a familiar sight at exhibition openings, making introductions and keeping the Tokyo art world accessible in a way that no other individual or organization can match.

Walker's heroic philanthropic efforts have recently been officially recognized by the Tate Gallery in London, which has appointed him project director of the Tate Tokyo Residency, the first such Tate project outside England.

Tokyo was chosen to host the program in part because of the favorable reaction to the UK98 festival in Japan, organized by the British Council. The great success of the festival showed the need for a more permanent cultural bridge between the two countries and prompted the creation of the residency program, which will be run on a trial basis for one year but may become permanent if funding is available.

Although aimed specifically at younger artists, there is no upper age limit for the program. The chosen artist is given the opportunity to visit Japan for three months, with studio space in central Tokyo and living accommodation provided, plus an exhibition if the artist so desires.

Photographer Bridget Smith, known for her shots of empty constructed public spaces, was selected to be the first resident, from January to the end of April.

"I was interested in the space of the city, and also thought that there would be lots of things that would be very escapist, all about entertainment," she said of her Tokyo expectations. "So I photographed in karaoke rooms and love hotels, but also, I have kind of got into quieter, more obscure places. Maybe it's the secretiveness of Tokyo. . . . Often these places are quite inaccessible and there's only a tiny detail to tell you what is going on inside a space."

Smith said she was more than satisfied with the program. "For me it's been fantastic to have three months just to make my work, as I normally teach part-time at Goldsmiths. Three months is a good length of time -- it's not so long and you really kind of have to go for it to get used to a city like this. I also think that it is great as most of the other residencies don't seem to be based in central Tokyo, which has been imperative for me.

"The art scene here is interesting too, lots of younger generations all coming up at the same time -- artists and gallerists, many who have spent time abroad. So now that influence is coming back."

Although Smith was thankful that she was not required to have an exhibition while she was here, she hopes to come back for a show in a few months.

"If the show I do here eventuates, then the work will probably be from other places because there is not so much interest in work done in Tokyo, as it is seen as some weird offshoot from your main body of work. I personally hope that's not the case as I make work all over the place -- I photograph work that interests me, and [right now] it just happens to be in Tokyo."

The second Tate Tokyo residents will be video team Smith and Stewart, from July through October.

Walker hopes that the success of the Tate Tokyo program will lead to a reciprocal program at the Tate Modern in London for Japanese artists, to create a mutually inspired cultural exchange, possibly to occur in conjunction with Japan Festival 2001 in the U.K., which promises to be a major celebration of Japanese culture in Britain.