Mami Kataoka on Championing Japanese Art in a Global Age at Mori Art Museum

Mami Kataoka, director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, discusses the institution's role in promoting Japanese contemporary art internationally. The museum, located on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills, operates under the motto 'Art & Life' and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to integrate art into urban life. Kataoka notes that biennial works, museum collections, and market preferences are diverging globally, and highlights the influence of Japanese artists like Kusama, Murakami, and Nara. The museum researches Asian diasporic communities and has held exhibitions on gender, aging, well-being, ecology, and new technologies since 2020. Strategies for Japanese artists include co-curating with overseas curators for 'Roppongi Crossing,' inviting international biennial directors through the National Center for Art Research, Japan, and the 'Mori Art Award' established by Yoshiko Mori. The museum launched a 'Learning Room' in 2025 and has held 50 'Urgent Talk' sessions since 2010. Kataoka emphasizes maintaining perspectives on humanity and the universe amid political and social turmoil, and prioritizes sustainability and minority viewpoints.