Setouchi Triennale Partner Project: Kide Baharudin Open Studio and Exhibition

by Malaysian artist Kide Baharudin, who is currently exhibiting works at the Seto Inland Asia Gallery on Shodoshima, will be set up at the office entrance on the first floor of Mitsui Tower in Nihonbashi Shiomachi. The process of creating the work will be publicly displayed. In Shinjuku Mitsui Building, in addition to the works created in Nihonbashi, the 'Behind the Scenes' of Setouchi will be introduced through the plans, models, prototypes, photographs, and regional materials of the works. The works created in Nihonbashi are scheduled to be exhibited in Seto Inland later. This event was planned in conjunction with the 'SETOUCHI Corporate Forum' to be held on November 9, 2026, at Nihonbashi Shiomachi Mitsui Hall, which will be held outside Kagawa Prefecture for the first time. By linking with the forum, the aim is to spread the philosophy and charm of Setouchi to more people, and to create new interest and exchange between Tokyo's Nihonbashi and Shinjuku and the Seto Inland area. Seto Inland Asia Gallery 2026 Kide Baharudin 'Tekonan Konan' Photo: Shintaro Miyawaki Nihonbashi: Creating and Displaying Works Connecting Nihonbashi and Seto Inland. Nihonbashi, which has a background of being a starting point of the Five Routes, where people, goods, and culture have flowed in and out, and where new culture has been born, will have a 'Small Studio' by Kide Baharudin at the office entrance on the first floor of Mitsui Tower in Nihonbashi Shiomachi. The process of the artist's usual creation will be publicly displayed, creating a place where visitors can see the process of creating the work up close. Opportunities for dialogue with the artist will also be provided, creating a limited-time experience that allows visitors to feel close to the artist, who has limited opportunities to share the creation scene in Japan. The new work will be prepared at the Seto Inland Asia Gallery, one of the Setouchi facilities on Shodoshima, and will be completed in Nihonbashi. By incorporating the streetscape of Nihonbashi and the people who visited the venue during the period of public creation, the connections between Shodoshima, Nihonbashi, the artist, and visitors will overlap in one work. Event Summary Event Name: Setouchi International Art Festival Partner Company Collaboration Event 'Public Creation and Exhibition of Kide Baharudin' Public Creation: September 24, 2026 (Thursday) and 25 (Friday) 10:00-17:00 Exhibition Period: From September 26, 2026 (Saturday) to November 9, 2026 (Monday) (planned) Venue: 1-2-3 Nihonbashi Shiomachi, Chuo City, Tokyo Nihonbashi Shiomachi Mitsui Tower 1st Floor Office Entrance Artist: Kide Baharudin (Kide Baharudin / Malaysia) Organizer: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. Support: Benesse Corporation, Setouchi International Art Festival Executive Committee Collaboration for Planning and Production: Art Front Gallery Co., Ltd. Main Exhibits: New work created through public creation, plane and 3D works, exhibition introduction panels, etc. Artist Profile: Kide Baharudin (Kide Baharudin) Born in Negri Sembilan, Malaysia. Known for activities that cross painting and illustration, he has developed a unique visual expression based on the social history, daily life, and cultural landscape of small towns in Malaysia. He has participated in numerous international group exhibitions in Jakarta, Sydney, and other places. In 2026, he is exhibiting at the Seto Inland Asia Gallery on Shodoshima. Shinjuku: Introducing the 'Behind the Scenes' of the Work, Not Just the Completed Work. In Shinjuku Mitsui Building, in addition to the works created in Nihonbashi, the terrain and history of Seto Inland, the lives of people living on the islands, the process of completing the works, and the support of companies, regions, and volunteers for the art festival will be introduced through panels, photographs, and physical materials. The aim is to convey the background of the works and their relationship with the region, even to those who are new to Setouchi. The features of this exhibition include the ability to understand the process of completing the work through materials, and to trace the evolution of the art festival through past posters and related materials. This will create an opportunity for people who work and visit the area to engage with art and think about sustainable society and regional connections. Event Name: Setouchi International Art Festival Partner Company Collaboration Event 'The Backstage of the Setouchi International Art Festival' Event Period: From November 2, 2026 (Monday) to November 27, 2026 (Friday) (planned) Venue: 1-1-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo Shinjuku Mitsui Building 2nd Floor Lobby '55 Square North' Organizer: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., Benesse Corporation Support: Setouchi International Art Festival Executive Committee Main Exhibits: Works created in Nihonbashi, regional materials, materials on the creation process of the works, work photographs, past posters, and introductions of people who support Setouchi. About the Setouchi International Art Festival The Setouchi International Art Festival is a major contemporary art festival in Japan held every three years, starting in 2010, with the islands of the Seto Inland Sea as its stage. With the theme of 'Reviving the Sea,' it has attracted about one million visitors from Japan and abroad who travel around the Seto Inland Sea, guided by art, and interact with the local people. This unique style has generated a lot of resonance among people. Official Website: https://setouchi-artfest.jp/ Relationship Between the Two Companies and Setouchi Mitsui Fudosan has been supporting Setouchi since 2013.