On March 11 of 2011, the Tohoku-Pacific Earthquake struck Japan. As damage worsened throughout the day in the form of tsunamis and the emergency at the Fukushima nuclear plant, GEISAI Chairman Takashi Murakami had no choice but to cancel the art fair GEISAI#15.
During this difficult period, our desire to encourage the victims of the disaster emerged in the form of the New Day Project. We issued a message to the scheduled participants for GEISAI#15 and asked everyone to contribute images and works over Twitter. With the support of artists the world round, we received over 1000 individual images.
We also began carrying out charity activities under the New Day banner, including the sale of charity items and special installations at art fairs, donating all proceeds earned in the process to charities contributing to the recovery efforts in the damage stricken areas. In November of 2011, we will join hands with Christie’s auction house to hold a charity auction.
Our hope is that the New Day project will present new possibilities for art’s role within society.