The Salon de Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts a Carrousel de Louvre exhibition was held at the Carrousel de Louvre, a space beneath the Musee du Louvre in Paris, France, from 17-20 December 2015. The exhibition was organised and curated by the Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts (SNBA, National Society for Fine Arts), one of the five most historical art academies in modern French history.
The SNBA is now in its 154th year. It has long provided support to the central pillars of French arts, and in return has been the only academy to enjoy the support of successive French presidents.
Its membership has included such notable artists as Marc Chagall, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The list of Japanese artists who have been members includes Torajiro Kojima, Taikan Yokoyama, Tsuguharu Fujita, Seiki Kuroda, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, and Koji Fukiya.
The juries who selected the artworks to be showcased at the 2015 exhibition were forthcoming with praise for Kaneko’s work, noting how his installation, a blue-coloured ceramic wall, had a quality of expression more associated with painting than ceramic works, and commenting on its striking individuality, something hitherto unseen in ceramic pieces. On the basis of this evaluation, Kaneko’s work was selected to represent Japan at the 2015 event, the first time a ceramic artwork has been chosen as to represent Japan and, as such, a true honour for the artist.
Furthermore, the artwork won two prizes at the exhibition: Le Jury de la Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts decerne la Medaille d’Or d’Installation (Gold Medal for Installation selected by the Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts Jury) and le Jury Invite de la Societe National Des Beaux Arts decerne la Medaille d’Or d’Installation (Gold Medal for Installation selected by the Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts Invited Jury).
Both juries comprised curators, interior designers, architects, and other art and design professionals, all at the top of their respective fields. This year, the jury also included Bruno Moinard, the renowned architect and scenographer responsible for the design of multiple gallery spaces, particularly in Paris, of all Alain Ducasse restaurants, and of all Cartier boutiques.

Of his latest success, the artist has said: “I would like to use this as a new starting point, from which I can focus on creating innovative new artworks. I hope to be able to enjoy everyone’s continued support”.

Winning artwork: Silent Blue (H3m x W12m)