Momus is indeed in Tokyo for a few weeks — as you’ll know if you follow his Click Opera blog, which has turned into a literal Tokyo/Japan lovefest since his arrival — and he also has a free show planned for December 22 (from 20:30) at the recently opened GM Ten Gallery in Azabu Juban, a space produced by Osaka designers Graf.

Starting December 20, the gallery will be hosting an exhibition of works by manga legend Eico Hanamura — here’s an interview with Hanamura on PingMag which was, believe it or not, published during my short tenure there.

It may not have come out in November as promised (it will soon though), but here’s a sneak peek at what the startup screen for Tokyo Art Beat‘s iPhone app will look like. The image was created by AQ‘s Eiko Nagase.

Tim Rudder took the afternoon to draw a girl on a fixed gear bike, and walks us through the process.

A video showing street art and stickers in Tokyo, from the RUN FFM Popculture blog.

TABlog has a photo report from last week’s opening of the “No Man’s Land” exhibition, which runs until January 31.

Today marks the last day of artist Polly Yates’ exhibition, showing works from her “Lacemakers” series, at Cafe Pause, so you still have time to check it out if you haven’t already.

When the time came to roll up the laces again, we both sighed; it took so long; but we weren’t willing to entrust it to anyone else. Just think, if we had to make them, Maman said, looking really frightened. I couldn’t imagine that at all. I caught myself thinking about little animals incessantly spinning these Things and which for that reason are left in peace. No, of course they were women. The women who made these have certainly gone to heaven, I said, filled with awe…. Maman took a deep breath; the laces once again lay rolled up together. After a while, when I had already forgotten my last words, she said, quite slowly, To heaven? I think they are completely in these laces. Each one, looked at in the right way, can become an eternal bliss. We know so little about it.

- Rainer Maria Rilke, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge

The Lacemakers series is a body of work that explores absence, femininity and desire. Polly Yates has exhibited in England, Germany, the US and Japan. She is currently living in Tokyo.

Felissimo in New York is hosting a Japan Brand pop-up shop during the holidays (until December 24), and it’s been getting some coverage on a bunch of NYC-based blogs, including JoshSpear.com and Spoon & Tamago.

Pictured above is a bicycle designed by Gelman, made of lacquer, silver plating, and gold leaf. It was created for his “Gelman’s Masterpieces” exhibition earlier this year at the Kakitsubata gallery in Nakameguro. I was actually given the chance the take it for a spin after the show was over, but I chickened out — was just too nervous that I might crash it or something.

The Rat Hole Gallery in Aoyama has recently re-opened, and TABlog posts a photo report of the first show to occupy the renovated space, “Oil,” by Isa Genzken. The exhibition runs until December 27.

During last week’s PauseTalk (Vol. 35), Imre Ostmann introduced us to an art project he’s been working on called “Tokyo STOP.” The idea is to take a “long exposure photograph of seven people standing in a dead-end road during sunset.” He’s done four areas so far, and is looking for some volunteers for upcoming dates — you’ll find all the details here, including his contact info.

The French Embassy in Tokyo has recently moved to new premises, and to commemorate this is holding a special exhibition at the old location. “No Man’s Land” (November 26 to January 31) features a vertigo-inducing number of participants, including my fellow Radio OK Fred co-host, Audrey Fondecave.

And speaking of Radio OK Fred — on hiatus since the start of my health problems — I can tell you that we’re planning on recording a new episode soon-ish, and before that you’ll get to hear two episodes that were recorded (but not yet edited) earlier this summer. Here’s a link to the last episode that was uploaded (#14).

Beautiful (and simple) site design featuring the illustrative work of Yorifuji Bunpei. Via Paul Baron.

Coming up at the Kakitsubata gallery in Nakameguro is the show “Kodai,” running from November 25 until December 6.

I’m very happy to be able to share the latest entry in my “Cafe Pause Poster Series” (#5), a contribution by Amsterdam-based art director Luis Mendo. You know about the Tokyo map he just produced for the next issue of Journal de Nîmes, and now here’s also his homage to the cafe. The concept revolves around the seats found in the cafe — there are 24 (all pictured), with 23 people shown, the idea being that the 24th customer is you!

The poster should occupy the entrance of the cafe sometime this week, but unfortunately won’t be ready for tomorrow night‘s PauseTalk (Vol. 35).

The next show at the Diesel Denim Gallery Aoyama is the first solo exhibition by Dutch artist Mathias, “All About Democracy,” featuring new works — print and video — as well as a selection of works that have appeared in various newspapers and magazines.

“The world is rotten, corrupt and bankrupt and it is not the time to explain the political situation in friendly cartoons.” Mathias draws well-known people in power like presidents and politicians, and develops stories of those characters based upon the current world situation. The cartoons drawn by his keen observation on social circumstances lampoon the current democracy, but also his hope for a better world without poverty, environmental pollution and justice for all can be seen. Mathias makes realistic digital illustrations on his laptop. He works everywhere, at home, in the train, in restaurants and soon in Tokyo.

The show starts this Friday (November 20), and runs until January 21. There will also be original art t-shirts sold ( 6,090 yen), including the one pictured below, featuring the current Japanese PM’s excentric wife, Miyuki Hatoyama.

Designboom highlights installation works by artist Chiharu Shiota. Above, “Flowing Water” at the Nizayama Forest Art Museum in Toyama.