The VOCA (The Vision of Contemporary Art) exhibition, which presents the two-dimensional work of artists under 40, was held at the Ueno Royal Museum for the first time in 1994.Since then it has been held annually in the first part of each year. It is unique among the other competitive exhibitions held in Japan because all of the artists recommended by the members are able to participate in the exhibition without further screening. The recommendations are made by a group of people composed of curators, journalists, and scholars from around the country. 35 people were asked to recommend artists and 35 artists were invited to exhibit this year. It is our hope that each viewer and each artist can find can find can find a number of works with which he or she can truly empathize. - VOCA Prize: MIYAKE Saori, Telling Secrets (left), Bed (right), Gelatine silver print
- VOCA Encouragement Prize: SAKAMOTO Natsuko, BATH, L (left)Study b for Funicula (tentative title) (right), Oil on canvas
- VOCA Encouragement Prize: NAKATANI Michiko, Image Existing There (left, two images), Image Existing There (right), Plaster, polyester resin, pigments made for use with polyester resin
- Prize for Excellence: KIYOKAWA Asami, HAZY DREAM, Photograph, embroidery yarn
- Prize for Excellence／Ohara Museum of Art Prize: SAITO Meo, Immoralville, Acrylic on paper * The text provided by Committee for the Exhibition “VOCA”.