Rapt! 20 contemporary artists from Japan is an ambitious program of exhibitions, residencies and public events showcasing contemporary Japanese art in Australia. Developed by the Japan Foundation in the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange, it is based on cross-cultural research and discussions by Japanese curators, Shihoko Iida, Fumihiko Sumitomo and Yukihiro Hirayoshi, and an Australian curatorial advisory group led by Philip Brophy, Max Delany, Stuart Koop and Kathryn Hunyor. Rapt! is remarkable in its scope and commitment, becoming the largest collaborative arts project ever undertaken in Australia, involving twenty organisations developing different facets of the one project.

Rapt! presents a significant rethinking of the character of contemporary Japanese art and culture. Rather than conform to traditional stereotypes of Japan, Rapt! highlights new modes of communication which have developed over the past decade in Japan to enable direct connections between individuals and the rest of the world. The work of various contemporary artists suggests a new Japanese identity is emerging based on the renegotiation of traditional practices and influences.

Artist-in-residence programs will run from July to September 2006 involving seven Japanese staying in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Sydney. The exposure to different parts of Australian culture and landscape will inform the new work they are producing for Rapt! exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney, beginning August 2006.

Museums, galleries and alternative spaces in Melbourne and Sydney have formed a network with public spaces to exhibit works the twenty artists involved in Rapt! to permeate the city with the air of contemporary Japan.

The Rapt! screening program on September 30 will bring audiences closer still to the artists involved through a series of artist floor talks and audio visual presentations alongside screen-based works. Also at Asialink the Rapt! Symposium on October 14 brings from Japan two key critics to discuss contemporary Japanese society and art. Their presentations are the culmination of three public seminars based on the theme of contemporary Japanese culture, held in Tokyo throughout February and March 2006. An opportunity will follow to hear from the team who developed this impressive project over 2005 and 2006, discussing Rapt! and their experiences of cultural exchange.

All the events that form Rapt! 20 contemporary artists from Japan are free, and open to everyone.