Production Team
サイアフ2027 is taking on the challenge of building a sustainable art festival under a new four-director structure. In addition to the サイアフ Advisor and the Ainu Culture Coordinator bringing diverse perspectives, サイアフ is introducing two curators who will plan and develop the festival’s activities.
Furthermore, the festival is incorporating a dramaturg for the first time. Although the role of dramaturg is most commonly associated with the performing arts, during サイアフ2027, this role will be responsible for perpetuating the narrative of Planet Snow, designed by the Director Team, throughout the festival to enrich visitors’ experience.
Photo by KUSUMI Erika
Artistic Director
OGAWA Hideaki
OGAWA is the Artistic Director and Managing Director of Ars Electronica Futurelab, a cultural institution located in Linz, and served as the director for SIAF2024. For SIAF2027, OGAWA will oversee the entire director team, supervise the festival’s theme and concepts, and plan policies related to the festival’s international development.
Festival Director
HOSOKAWA Asami
After working for a television station as an exhibition producer and manager, HOSOKAWA started her career as a festival organizer, focusing on planning and exhibition work. She has been engaged with SlAF since the inaugural edition. At SIAF2024, she served as curator for the exhibition at the Future Theater (Higashi 1-chome Theater). For SIAF2027, she will be responsible for developing the festival’s overall policy and supervising its communications strategy. In addition, she will curate exhibitions at the Hokkaido Museum and Moerenuma Park.
School Director
URUSHI Takahiro
URUSHI, Representative Director of AIS Planning, has played an active role in connecting art and society through an artist-in-school program in Hokkaido. He has been engaged with SIAF since the inaugural edition and was responsible for SIAF School during SIAF2024. For SIAF2027, he will again lead the SIAF School initiative, focusing on partnerships with educational institutions (including in-school outreach classes and Education Cafe) and lifelong-learning initiatives (the Fumu Fumu Project). He will also be responsible for the programs at the Shiryokan and the Chuo Ward Office Complex.
Studio Director
MARUTA Tomoaki
MARUTA, representative of Tomoaki Maruta Architects, has been an architect for SIAF since SIAF2017, responsible for making blueprints for each venue, managing exhibition sites, and supporting artists in their creation. He has also been engaged as an architect with the Aichi Triennale. For SIAF2027, in addition to overseeing the design for each venue, MARUTA will lead collaborations with companies and local organizations and curate activities at the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center (SCARTS) and the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site.
©NASA
Advisor
YAMAZAKI Naoko
YAMAZAKI is an astronaut and the Honorary Director of the Sapporo Science Center. She lived in Sapporo from kindergarten through second grade. In 2001, she was officially certified as an astronaut by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)—currently the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). In April 2010, YAMAZAKI flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-131 crew, an assembly and resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Serving as an advisor, YAMAZAKI will bring a scientific perspective to SIAF2027's narrative.
[Video] Tips for Interpreting Planet Snow
Photo by Una ZHU
Dramaturg / Curator
KANAZAWA Kodama
KANAZAWA is a contemporary art curator and the Special Project Director at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Kyoto. After working at the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto and the Kawasaki City Museum, she became independent and has since been involved with numerous exhibitions and art festivals. From 2017 to 2020, she served as Chief Curator at the Towada Art Center. For SIAF2027, KANAZAWA will draw on her experience in experimental curation of creative narratives to serve as the festival's dramaturg, overseeing its overall narrative. In addition, she will also curate the exhibition at the Sapporo Citizens Gallery.
Photo by Iroha
Curator
NISHI Tsubasa
A curator at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM), NISHI is primarily responsible for exhibition planning and is also involved in R&D projects and human resource development programs. During SIAF2024, he served as project manager for the Moerenuma Park venue, overseeing programs and works held outdoors or in snow storage spaces. For SIAF2027, NISHI will be responsible for curating the exhibition at the Sapporo Science Center.
Photo by IKEDA Hiroshi
Ainu Culture Coordinator
Mayunkiki
A member of Marewrew and Apetunpe, groups dedicated to performing traditional Ainu songs, Mayunkiki is an active artist who explores the Ainu's presence and identity in contemporary society from a deeply personal perspective. She joined SIAF2017 as a project member and has served as the Ainu Culture Coordinator since SIAF2020, developing the official Ainu-language title and theme of SIAF and providing specialized advice to artists.
Art Director & Designer
Wabisabi / SHIRAI Hiroaki
Wabisabi is a design unit consisting of KUDO “Wabi” Ryohei and NAKANISHI “Sabi” Kazushi. SHIRAI Hiroaki is a freelance graphic designer based in Sapporo. Teaming up since SIAF2020, the two parties will collaborate and create the iconic visuals of SIAF2027.