Aichi’s leading art event brings together contemporary and performing artists from across the world under the curation of Hoor Al Qasimi.
Simone Leigh, Untitled, 2023-24. © Simone Leigh, courtesy the artist and Matthew Marks Gallery. Artwork image is for reference only. The work presented at Aichi Triennale 2025 will differ from the image shown above.
The Aichi Triennale 2025 (September 13 – November 30, 2025) has announced the full list of participating artists and groups. Led by Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi (President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation), the 6th edition of the Triennale will bring together 60 artists from 22 countries and territories, each selected for their relevance to this year’s theme: A Time Between Ashes and Roses. While the majority of participants hail from Japan, artists from across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Europe are also strongly represented.
The theme takes inspiration from Adonis’ poem, A Time Between Ashes and Roses (1970), which reflects on transformation, renewal, and the passage of time. Echoing its sentiments, the Triennale’s curatorial approach embraces a broader perspective—one shaped by geological time rather than immediate national or territorial concerns. This vision aims to illuminate contemporary human-environment divides, exploring the complexities of our shifting world through artistic practice.
Newly Announced Artists and Highlights
The latest additions to the lineup further enrich this dialogue with their diverse and compelling works:
- Robert Andrew (Australia), a descendant of the Yawuru people, investigates personal and family histories that have been erased or forgotten.
- Afra Al Dhaheri (UAE) draws from her experiences growing up in Abu Dhabi, reflecting on cultural identity and materiality.
- Priyageetha Dia (Singapore) explores Southeast Asian labor histories, ancestral memory, and speculative tropics in her multimedia practice.
- Simone Leigh (USA), known for her ceramic and bronze sculptures inspired by African artistic traditions, will exhibit in Japan for the first time.
- Faustin Linyekula (Congo), a dancer and choreographer, tells stories of resilience and postcolonial identity. His performance at the Triennale marks his debut in Japan.
Additionally, the Learning team of Aichi Triennale 2025 will collaborate with Hive Earth (Ghana) to create a rammed earth project at the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, integrating sustainable construction techniques into the exhibition space.
Japanese Popular Culture and Manga at the Triennale
The Triennale also incorporates elements of Japanese popular culture, drawing from Osamu Tezuka’s sci-fi manga Nextworld—a narrative that traverses themes of apocalypse and renewal. Two renowned manga artists have been selected to participate:
- Morohoshi Daijiro (Japan), a master of science fiction, horror, and fantasy, whose works depict hidden underworlds lurking beneath everyday life. His career, spanning over fifty years, has had a significant influence on Japanese pop culture.
- panpanya (Japan), a manga artist known for surreal storytelling, active in web publications and self-published works since the 2000s.
Aichi Triennale’s Vision
Rooted in the locality of Aichi Prefecture and its artistic heritage, A Time Between Ashes and Roses challenges assumed social structures and hierarchies, embracing the in-between, the spectral, and the impermanent.
Speaking on the artist selection, Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi stated: “I am excited to work with such a strong lineup of artists for the Aichi Triennale 2025. Through this exhibition, we will explore the complex tensions between humanity and the environment from multiple perspectives. Art, as a multifaceted form of expression, is deeply intertwined with society’s challenges. By engaging with it, we can reflect on the world around us and uncover new insights and solutions to our most pressing crises.”
Reflecting on her research visits to Nagoya and Seto City, the host locations for the Triennale, she added: “Seto City’s rich natural resources, especially clay, are deeply embedded in daily life. This served as an inspiration for the exhibition’s theme. I hope many will join us in experiencing this unique celebration of art and its connection to the world.”
For more information and the full list of participating artists and performers please visit Aichi Triennale 2025.
