Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2010

Due to their length and haphazard screening times, works of video art tend not to be appreciated in their entirety by museum-goers. Born in Spain, the globetrotting Vital International Video Art festival addresses these problems by presenting short works of ten minutes or less in rapid succession. For its return to the cozy Hara Museum in Shinagawa, VIVA will screen films by 34 artists from 16 countries, including Isaac Julien, Francis Alÿs and Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba. Project curator Macu Morán will briefly introduce each screening, while visitors can also enjoy free access to the ongoing exhibition, Jae-Eun Choi: Forests of Aoka.

Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
VIVA Festival. Video art. Nov 13-14, 2pm, ¥1,500 (student)/¥2,000 (adult). Jae-Eun Choi. Forests of Aśoka. Photography. Until Dec 26, ¥500 (elem, MS)/¥700 (HS, univ)/¥1,000 (adult). 4-7-25 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku. Open Tue-Sun 11am-5pm (Wed until 8pm), closed Mon. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. www.haramuseum.or.jp