March 20, 2012 (Tuesday) | National Art Gallery | Time: TBA.

The first full-scale contemporary art exhibition in the Maldives: ‘Breathing Atolls: Japan-Maldives Contemporary Art Exhibition‘ is a one of a kind exhibition jointly organized by The National Centre for the Arts and The Japan Foundation.

This exhibition celebrates the 45th anniversary relationship between Japan and the Maldives; and is inspired by the unique archipelago of the Maldives consisting of chains of geographically and culturally distinctive islands forming atolls that are, unfortunately, at risk of being submerged due to rising sea levels. Consequently, this exhibition is an expression of concern regarding climate change and environmental issues determining the fate of small island nations and using contemporary art practices to relay that concern both locally and globally. The Maldives is still blossoming to the contemporary art scene and thanks to the efforts of many, this exhibition celebrates our first wide-scale foray into the world of contemporary art both at a national and an international level.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Terunobu Fujimori, Fujiko Nakaya, Haruka Kojin, Tetsuro Kano, Yukihiro Taguchi, Yodogawa-Technique, Afu (Afzal Shaafiu Hasan), Ali Nishan (Millzero).

Japanese Artists will conduct on-site research in the Maldives prior to exhibition and wholly observe geographical and cultural environment peculiar to the Maldives and people’s lifestyles through exchange with local people. Maldivian Artists will also have the opportunity to exhibit and introduce themselves to the contemporary art scene in Japan.