Aura Contemporary Art Foundation アウラ現代藝術振興財団

The world embraces a unique cultural sphere that transcends national borders.

While each region carries its own history and values,

here they are open to unification, irrespective of the differences and inconsistencies.

A community united by life, not the economy.

Their wealth is far greater than that which is the visible,

achieved by the way people live, fully and vibrantly.

Over time, energies born from pure existence

have elevated into a form of expression called 'art'.

Life, that no national borders or modern law can confine.

That is where we cannot help realizing sense the potential of humanity.

In the fields of art and culture,

new perspectives have emerged

that heve, in fact, always been here since the ancient times.

In praise of humanity. In praise of life.

＜Aura Contemporary Art Foundation＞

Address: Head Office

2760-121, Katata, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-2201, Japan

Tokyo Office

31F, Kasumigaseki Building, 3-2-5, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Bangkok Office

Unit2301, 23rd Floor, Interchange 21 Building, North-Klongtoey, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand 10110

Founder/Representative Director: Yuto Yabumoto; Born in Shirahama City, Wakayama Prefectureo; Co-founder of One Asia Lawyers, President of ARTPORT Co., Ltd.; Yabumoto’s ancestors are buried in Nakaheji, Kumano Kodo, and his mother was the first female orca trainer at Adventure World. He founded JBL Mekong Group, the predecessor of One Asia Lawyers, in 2011, and he has lived and worked in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand for more than a decade, providing grants and exhibitions to artists, curators and art collectives across the region. His current research focuses on anthropology and art, with an interest in the myths, legends, fables and folklore of the Asia Pacific region. His research focuses on the Kumano region, where her ancestors lie, and on issues such as Zomia, highland civilisation and animism.; His major exhibitions include “Zomi: Trans-immigrants on the Water -Contemporary Art from the Mekong Region-” (Osaka), “Silence is Golden” (Myanmar) and “Abstraction of Breathing” (Myanmar).

Philosophy: The AURA Contemporary Art Foundation actively aims to maintain and develop“the
values that are unique to each region”all over the world, which have been lost
in the flow of modernization, development and urbanization of the world. It also
continuously strives to build regions where people can live more prosperously and in a peaceful world. In order to maintain and develop‘AURA’- the value that is
unique to the region, we will research, archive, exhibit, and disseminate
information on contemporary art and culture that is rooted in local communities
around the world, and endeavor to discover and nurture artists and curators from
around the world. We will also promote international exchanges with contemporary
art and artists from abroad. The Foundation has a collection of mainly video works from the Asia-Pacific region.

Activity: In order to maintain and develop "the value that is unique to the region (AURA)," we will research, create archives, exhibit and disseminate information on contemporary art and culture rooted in local communities around the world, discover and nurture artists and curators from around the world, and promote international exchanges with contemporary arts and artists from abroad.