Design Festa vol 44: Asia’s Biggest Art Show
Are you looking for a Tokyo event that’s a photographer’s dream? In November 2016, I found that and more at Design Festa vol 44 at Tokyo Big Sight. Billed as the largest art show in Asia, it was much more. The community celebrated its creativity. Intricate murals, cosplay, live music, and handcrafted treasures filled the halls. I left with a camera full of shots and memories.
The event was diverse, with artists, creators, photographers, and designers. Paintings, sculptures, fashion, art, accessories, live music, and food filled the venue. Of course, there was some quirky stuff too. It was open to everyone, from professionals to students!
The artwork at Design Festa vol 44 was impressive. Many of the artists had amazing skills. You could especially see that with the murals. Some of them were massive and incredibly detailed.
Everything on sale was high quality. You could pick up environmentally-friendly iPhone speakers, paintings, clothes, jewelry, accessories, and more. Whatever you wanted was there.
Many people were in cosplay. Some of them put much effort into their costumes. My favorite was steampunk-inspired. It had a WW1 gasmask and a huge gun. Compasses, bags, and tools hung from the leather jacket. To be honest, I didn’t know if the person underneath it was male or female! That outfit would be great at Halloween in Shibuya!
The only thing that wasn’t so good was the weather. Outside, the number of people seemed to be down compared to previous events as the clouds were very grey. But, the dull weather didn’t affect the music.
I especially enjoyed the groups Nagashima and Patron. A U.S. group, Captain Wailer and the Harpoons was also at Design Festa vol 44. They were very loud and very entertaining. Anyway, all of them were great.
The tickets were 1000 yen, which was a super price. That money got you entertainment for the whole day. Art lovers and photographers got tremendous value for money. Check it out next time.
Who ran Design Festa vol 44?
It was run by Design Festa Gallery in Harajuku. Please leave your questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External websites about this event:
- Design Festa Gallery (the organisers of this event)