Poster for the special exhibition "Shellfish Exhibition: Why are people fascinated by shellfish?"
The National Museum of Nature and Science will hold a special exhibition, "Shellfish Exhibition: Why are people fascinated by shellfish?" from Tuesday, November 26, 2024 to Sunday, March 2, 2025, as detailed below.
[Detailed URL:https://www.kahaku.go.jp/event/2024/11shells/ ]
Shellfish have supported human life not only as food but also as materials for ornaments and other items. Even today, they continue to color people's lives and culture in various ways. The biological characteristics and diversity of shellfish have fascinated us since ancient times. This exhibition will introduce the essence of the profound shell world.
Event summary
Special Exhibition "Shellfish Exhibition: Why are people fascinated by shellfish?"
[Venue] National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo) Japan Pavilion 1st floor special exhibition room and central hall
[Holding period] November 26, 2024 (Reiwa 6) (Tuesday) to March 2, 2025 (Reiwa 7) (Sunday)
[Opening hours] 9:00-17:00 *Entry is until 30 minutes before closing time
[Closed] Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday), December 28th (Saturday) to January 1st (Wednesday, national holiday)
*However, the museum will be open on Monday, December 23rd and Monday, February 17th.
[Admission fee] Adults and university students: 630 yen (510 yen for groups), high school students and younger and those aged 65 and older: free
*This exhibition can be viewed with the admission fee for the permanent exhibition only. *Groups of 20 or more people
*For details on how to enter the museum, please see our website. https://www.kahaku.go.jp/
[Sponsor] National Museum of Nature and Science
[Supported by] Dr. Naotada Akaboshi Cultural Properties Museum, Urakawa Town Museum, Kagoshima Prefectural Buried Cultural Properties Center, Kishiwada Nature Museum, The University Museum, Toba City Sea Museum, Toyohashi Museum of Natural History, Hagi Museum, Meguro Parasitological Museum, Yokosuka City Museum of Nature and Humanities
・Exhibition introduction
Prologue: The World of Shellfish
Shellfish are a group of invertebrates called mollusks that generally refer to those with calcium carbonate shells, but in a broader sense they also include those without shells. How did the shellfish that flourish on Earth come into being and develop? Here we will first look at the evolutionary path of shellfish, and also introduce their amazing diversity in size.
Acanthurus nigricans (Courtesy of the National Museum of Nature and Science)Pelecyogyra fezouataensis (Property: National Museum of Nature and Science)
Chapter 1 The origins of shellfish diversity
Molluscs, which are said to exist in over 100,000 species on Earth, are extremely diverse in many aspects, not only in the general structure of their bodies (body plan), but also in their habitats, ecology, shell morphology, and more. Some mollusks have evolved to lose their shells. Here, we will first provide an overview of molluscs, and then look at their diversity and the factors behind it from various angles.
Meotoyadrina (Photo: National Museum of Nature and Science)Maboroshi clam (Image: National Museum of Nature and Science)Harinagarimbo (Image: National Museum of Nature and Science)
Chapter 2: The long relationship between humans and shellfish – from prehistoric times to the present
The relationship between humans and shellfish has continued from prehistoric times to the present day. During times of food scarcity, shellfish provided a stable source of food that supported human life. At the same time, shells have also been used as materials for tools and ornaments. Furthermore, they have come to be involved in culture, such as religious ceremonies and games, and are therefore more than just natural products.
Shell ring (Gohora) (Property of the National Museum of Nature and Science)Shell Matching (Hamaguri) (Property of the National Museum of Nature and Science)
Chapter 3: The deep relationship between humans and shellfish – People fascinated by shellfish
The ultimate modern relationship between humans and shellfish is shell collecting. Shellfish are easy to make specimens of and can be preserved for many years, so they have attracted many people as representative biological collections. There are various ways to collect shellfish, such as aiming to collect all the species in a certain area or concentrating on a specific taxonomic group.
Adanson okinaebis (Image: National Museum of Nature and Science)Sea lion (Image: National Museum of Nature and Science)
Chapter 4: How to continue to have a long-term relationship with shellfish
Humans and shellfish have had a long and deep relationship. However, the situation is currently undergoing great changes. Shellfish, which have thrived on the planet, are also being affected by recent environmental changes and global-scale fluctuations. Changes are also being seen in their relationship with humans, including in the way they eat. Here, you can understand the current situation and think about the future.
Small Masuho shellfish (Philadelphus nigricans) (Photo: National Museum of Nature and Science)
・Exhibition Supervisor
Researcher, Marine Invertebrate Research Group, Animal Research Department Kazunori Hasegawa
My specialty is the taxonomy of gastropods (snail shells). Shells have had a large presence in my heart ever since I was old enough to understand. The starting point of this exhibition was to rediscover their appeal. While their appeal as research subjects and food is easy to understand, it is still difficult to explain the happiness I feel when admiring a shell in the palm of my hand. The mystery of why the product of adaptive evolution of living things is so captivating only deepens.
Environmental Change History Research Group, Earth Science Research Department, Research Director Takuma Haga
My field of expertise is evolutionary paleontology and molluscology using shells. I still don't know why I'm fascinated by them, even after 38 years of collecting shells. If I had to say, it might be the diversity of shapes that exceeds my imagination. When I see a shell, I instinctively pick it up, and in my dreams I collect "gorgeous dream shells." But I'm really drawn to the Chishima shell and the Ijike shell. I think the answer I'm looking for lies in their indescribable shapes.
Researcher, Anthropology Research Department, Anthropological History Research Group Wataru Morita
His specialty is dental anthropology. One of the great attractions of shells for anthropologists is that they protect precious ancient human bones, such as those of the Jomon people, from Japan's acidic soil. They may not have expected their appearances and lives to be passed down to future generations like a time capsule, but I imagine that the Jomon people were so fascinated by shells that they wanted to be buried surrounded by shells after death.
Group Leader, Marine Invertebrate Research Group, Zoology Department Hiroshi Saito
His specialty is the taxonomy of mollusks (mainly squamous organisms). When I was a child, I remember seeing shells of turban shells and abalones that had turned white from exposure to the elements on a flower shelf in an alleyway in my neighborhood. Although it's a weak basis based on my own experience, when I think about the fact that I remember such common shells, with their pale color, I think that the biggest factor in their fascination is their shape.
Earth Science Research Department, Environmental Change History Research Group, Group Leader Yasunari Shigeta
His specialty is ammonite biology. In the midst of nature, when he hits the strata with a hammer, the beautiful spiral ammonites peek out. It's like opening a time capsule. Some ammonites shine with rainbow colors. It's exciting to wonder what the ammonites, extinct long ago, can tell me.
The National Museum of Nature and Science, an independent administrative institution, will be holding a fully virtual special exhibition, "Alpine Plants," which can be experienced in an online virtual reality (VR) space from Monday, November 18th.
This exhibition will introduce the beautiful alpine plants that color the summer mountains through a virtual experience that can be toured regardless of the season. The setting is Mt. Hakuba in the Northern Alps. A "virtual Mt. Hakuba" that can be climbed at any time has been recreated in a VR space. This is the first content that allows you to experience alpine plants that change with altitude and topography in a VR space while enjoying the mountain scenery and topography from a climber's perspective. Even those who have no experience of climbing can easily enjoy Virtual Mt. Hakuba. In addition, content introducing the imminent threat to alpine ecosystems and the museum's efforts to overcome this threat, such as the cultivation and conservation of alpine plants outside their natural habitat, will be released at a later date.
This exhibition shares the same theme as the special exhibition "Alpine Plants – The Diversity of High-Rise Flowers and the Connection of Life" held at the Ueno Main Building, and is an initiative that allows people to experience alpine plants not only in the exhibition room but also online.
・Background to the virtual exhibition
The National Museum of Nature and Science has been utilizing digital technology, which has been developing in recent years, to offer "Experience at Home! Kahaku VR," which allows visitors to view exhibits anytime, anywhere, since 2020. Furthermore, since 2023, a "Virtual Exhibition Room," which is different from the real-world exhibits, has been set up online, and full virtual content such as "Exploring Square Compass VR" and "Creating Electronic Musical Instruments" has been released.
This time, we will share the same theme as the special exhibition "Alpine Plants – The Diversity of Flowers of High Mountains and the Connection of Life" held at the Ueno Main Building this year, and will utilize the accumulated VR technology to make it possible to enjoy learning about alpine plants, which are often difficult to see, anytime and anywhere. The main points of the real Northern Alps' Mt. Shirouma will be reproduced in 3D models taken from aerial photography by drone, and you can enjoy the diverse appearance of alpine plants while experiencing the landscape and terrain from a climber's perspective, which is different from the exhibition room. We will introduce not only the charm of alpine plants, which change depending on the altitude and terrain, but also the critical situation they are in. Because the alpine ecosystem is facing a crisis, there are also efforts by the museum to overcome it. In particular, you will learn about ex situ conservation activities, which cultivate and conserve alpine plants outside their natural habitat. We hope that this small and beautiful plant will be an opportunity to learn about various environmental issues, such as biodiversity.
Event summary
[Sponsor] National Museum of Nature and Science, Independent Administrative Agency
[Permanent period] From November 18, 2020 (Monday) onwards
[Release Schedule]
Monday, November 18, 2024: "Chapter 1: Virtual Mt. Hakuba" released the scene of the upper part of the large snowfield (Autumn Path)
Friday, November 29, 2024 (planned): Four scenes from "Chapter 1: Virtual Mt. Hakuba" will be released: the flower fields, the summit lodge to Hakuba Mountain Lodge, the summit of Mt. Hakuba, and the area around Mt. Asahi.
December 2024 (planned): "Chapter 2: Crisis and Conservation of Alpine Ecosystems" will be released
[Fee] Free
Supervisor: Yoshinori Murai (Chief Researcher, Biodiversity Analysis and Conservation Group, Plant Research Department, National Museum of Nature and Science)
[Supported by] Omachi City Museum of Mountaineering, Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden, Hokkaido University Botanical Garden
[Exhibition location] National Museum of Nature and Science Virtual Exhibition Room https://www.kahaku.go.jp/3dmuseum/alpineplants/
[Devices that can be used to watch] PC (web browser), smartphone, tablet, VR goggles, etc.
・Exhibition composition
[Chapter 1 Virtual Mt. Hakuba]
Mt. Hakuba in the Northern Alps, a treasure trove of alpine plants, has been recreated in a VR space using a 3D model created from drone footage and 360-degree footage. The video starts with footage of Sarukura and Hakubajiri, then takes you up five points on the "Virtual Mt. Hakuba" – the upper part of the Oyukikei (Autumn Path), the flower fields, the summit lodge – Hakuba Sanso, the summit of Mt. Hakuba, and the Asahidake area – and you can experience the diversity of alpine plants that changes with altitude and terrain.
Virtual scene of the upper part of the large snowfield (autumn path) of Mt. HakubaAlpine plant commentary
[Chapter 2: Crisis and conservation of alpine ecosystems]
Beautiful alpine plants are in a critical situation, and conservation efforts are underway. This exhibition introduces alpine plants that are conserved outside of their natural habitat, as well as animals closely related to alpine plants, and shows how protecting alpine plants not only protects plants, but also leads to the conservation of the diversity of the entire environment. This exhibition also focuses on "living specimens" (living collections) related to conservation, and how museums contribute to the conservation of these ecosystems.
Image of the space in Chapter 2 (image in development)Images of endangered species introduced in Chapter 2 (images under development)
・Virtual guided tour
A virtual guided tour will be held at Chapter 1 Virtual Mt. Hakuba by the exhibition's curator, Yoshinori Murai. We are preparing a tour that will allow visitors to enjoy the exhibition even more. Details will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
❖ Osaka Venue / Osaka Museum of History Scheduled to open in June 2025 ❖Tokyo venue/Ueno Royal Museum Scheduled to open in September 2025
A completely new "Shosoin experience" begins
An exhibition will be held in conjunction with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, and will be supervised by the Imperial Household Agency's Shoso-in Office, to allow visitors to "feel" and "enjoy" the miracle of the Shoso-in Repository, where rare items from around the world have been preserved in good condition for some 1,300 years and where they remain. The exhibition will take a completely new approach to the experience of the miracle of the Shoso-in Repository and its treasures.
This exhibition offers new ways to experience and enjoy the world of Shosoin, through a collaboration between the latest digitally controlled video, music, and lighting, and a variety of "reproductions" (works in which modern master craftsmen meticulously recreate the original appearance of the treasures) that have been researched and produced by the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office.
We will also be showcasing new works by contemporary artists from a variety of fields, based on the theme of the beauty and history of Shosoin.
Within the venue, you can take photos and post them on social media, not just at the photo spots. This is an exhibition event that is decorated with the splendor of a show, where you can immerse yourself in the world of Shosoin through the words, music, and spatial direction of cutting-edge creators.
[Highlights of this exhibition] ❖ Experience the "feelings" that have been woven together
The treasures of Shosoin have been protected and passed down by people on earth for about 1,300 years, making them a rare treasure even on a global scale. The people who have protected these treasures are imbued with a desire to "preserve" them, and it is because this desire has been woven through the ages that the miracle that is Shosoin exists today. This exhibition will touch on the various "feelings" that have been woven from the thoughts of Empress Komyo.
❖ Experience the world of treasures in depth with 3D digital data
In order to leave accurate information about the treasures for future generations, the Shosoin Office is using the latest technology to scan the treasures from 360 degrees and obtain high-definition 3D digital data. By adding effects to the 3D digital data, the exhibits will present the details and texture of the treasures more realistically, allowing visitors to experience the world of the Shosoin treasures more deeply than ever before.
❖ A new appreciation experience with reproduction and the latest digital technology
Even with the utmost care and care, cultural properties deteriorate over time. Therefore, the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office creates replicas with the aim of faithfully reproducing the materials, structure, and techniques of the treasures to bring them back to their original form. These replicas clearly show that the treasures were made with great care and skill. This exhibition offers a new appreciation experience by displaying the replicas in combination with the latest digitally controlled video, music, and lighting.
❖Collaboration with contemporary artists
The beauty of the Shosoin treasures, which has not faded even in modern times, will be given new appeal through collaboration with artists. Contemporary artists active in a wide range of genres will create and exhibit works inspired by the Shosoin treasures. Details will be released in due course.
[Greetings]
We are pleased to announce that Shosoin "THE SHOW" will be held. Located in the former grounds of Todaiji Temple in Nara, Shosoin is truly a "treasure trove of miracles," having protected and handed down some 9,000 treasures above ground for nearly 1,300 years. An exhibition of Shosoin is held every autumn, but this time we will be taking a different approach to viewing the actual items, using the latest digital technology to offer a new way of enjoying the treasures. We hope that this will be an opportunity for visitors to appreciate the value of the treasures more deeply, and to come into contact with the irreplaceable value of the Imperial family and the feelings of the people who supported their transmission. (Iida Takehiko, Director of the Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency)
[Event Summary]
Exhibition title: Shosoin "THE SHOW" – Feel the miracle here and now –
Dates and Venue: Osaka Venue/Osaka Museum of History Scheduled to open in June 2025
Tokyo venue: Ueno Royal Museum, scheduled to open in September 2025
Organized by: Shosoin "THE SHOW" Executive Committee
Supervised by: Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency
Official website: https://shosoin-the-show.jp
*More details will be announced on the official website around April 2025.
From the press release by the Shosoin "THE SHOW" Public Relations Office
Ueno Artist Project 2024 Nostalgia – Scenes from Memory
Through eight artists, we will explore the meaning and possibilities of the universal, primal landscape – the complex emotion of nostalgia. “The Genealogy of Nostalgia – From the Taisho Era to the Present, From the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection” will also be held at the same time.
Ueno Artist Project 2024 “Nostalgia – Scenes from Memory”
Ueno Artist Project 2024 Nostalgia ―Scenery in Memory
(Simultaneous event) A Genealogy of Nostalgia: From the Taisho Era to the Present, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection”
Date: November 16, 2024 (Saturday) – January 8, 2025 (Wednesday)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will hold the Ueno Artist Project 2024 “Nostalgia – Scenes from Memory” from November to January next year.
In this eighth exhibition in the series, we would like to think about familiar landscapes and nostalgia. The word “nostalgia” is originally a compound word of the Greek words “nostos” (going home) and “argos” (pain), and refers to the emotional pain of wanting to return to one’s hometown but never being able to do so. Originally it had a similar meaning to homesickness, but in modern times it refers to the bittersweet and complex emotions felt when memories of the past that can never be returned to are superimposed on the scenery and scenes of the present.
This exhibition introduces eight unique artists who have painted landscapes, scenes with people, and fantasy paintings that strongly evoke this feeling of nostalgia. Abe Tatsuya and Minamizawa Manami lovingly paint everyday cityscapes. Shiba Yasuhiro and Miya Itsuki paint light-filled scenes with children. Irie Kazuko, Tamamushi Ryoji, Kondo Olga, and Kuno Kazuhiro each express their own unique “scenery from memory,” including fantasy. While each of them walks their own different paths, they seem to be searching for a universal, primordial landscape (a primordial landscape deep in the human heart) that seems to transcend time and space. Through their works, this exhibition will explore once again the meaning and possibilities of the complex emotion known as nostalgia.
*The “Ueno Artist Project” is an exhibition series that proactively introduces artists involved in public exhibitions in order to preserve the history of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, also known as the “home of public exhibitions,” and to promote its future development. Since 2017, it has been held with a different theme each year.
[Highlights of the Exhibition]
(1) Knowing the diversity of nostalgia <br /> This exhibition features “scenes from memory” by eight people of various generations, from those born in the Taisho era to those born in the Heisei era, and who spent their childhoods in different regions and environments. Enjoy the diverse world of nostalgia, expressed through unique expressions of everyday scenes, scenes with children, people from foreign countries, and fantasy cities.
(2) Relax and experience nostalgia in the relaxation space. In the center of Gallery A, which has a 12-meter-high atrium ceiling, there is a rest area the size of an eight-tatami room, surrounded by large paintings by the four artists. In particular, the large 16-meter panorama of 10 pieces from Tamamushi Ryoji’s series Epoch, which he continued to paint over the course of five years, will be on display for the first time in its entirety at this exhibition venue. Nostalgia encourages us to reflect on our lives, and can be an opportunity to reexamine not only a painter’s work but also our own inner selves. Please take your time to appreciate the works here and experience the nostalgia.
(3) Explore the expressions of contemporary artists at the “Nostalgia” exhibition and trace modern history at the “Lineage of Nostalgia” exhibition. The “Lineage of Nostalgia – From the Taisho Period to the Present, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection,” held simultaneously in Gallery B, traces the Japanese landscape from the Taisho Period to the present day, and explores once again what kind of “nostalgia” people of each era have found. The exhibition features works in a variety of media, including not only oil paintings, but also woodblock prints, drawings, photographs, books, posters, and photo books. By viewing both exhibitions together, you can experience the various facets of nostalgia.
[Exhibition composition and introduction of participating artists] (in order of exhibition)
Chapter 1 City and Landscape – The painters carefully depict the everyday cityscape that changes with the sunlight, including the subtle changes in light, air, water, and color. Cherishing this everyday life that may no longer exist in the future. It can also be seen as nostalgia for the irreplaceable present from the perspective of the future.
■ABE Tatsuya
Born in Tokyo in 1974. Graduated from the Department of Oil Painting at Musashino Art University in 1999. Began exhibiting at the Niki Exhibition in 2004 and has exhibited every year since. Since around the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he has continued to create landscape paintings that depict wide and deep landscapes such as nearby rivers, oceans, and suburbs as accurately as possible. He is currently a member of the Niki Society.
■ MINAMIZAWA Aimi
Born in Tokyo in 1999. Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design, majoring in Western painting, printmaking course in 2022. Winner of the Japan Print Association Award at the 89th Japan Print Association Print Exhibition in 2022. She creates color lithographs featuring the expression of light and ripples, depicting scenes of animals enjoying fishing in rivers, fishing ponds, and public baths.
Tatsuya Abe, Tama River (Akishima, Tokyo), 2021, oil on canvas, artist’s collectionManami Minamizawa, “Around the Time of Light Clouds”, 2022, Lithograph, Artist’s Collection
Chapter 2: Children – This section introduces works by two artists who portray their past selves superimposed on children of the present, depicting boys playing and girls relaxing quietly and peacefully.
■ SHIBA Yasuhiro
Born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1970. Graduated from the Japanese Painting Department of Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts in 1994. Has exhibited at Inten exhibitions since his student days. Has held numerous solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi and other stores. Part-time lecturer at Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts. Has consistently drawn delicate Japanese paintings of children playing absentmindedly outdoors in the sunlight, using mineral pigments carved into the paint. Currently a scholarship recipient of the Japan Art Academy.
■MIYA Itsuki
Born in Tokyo in 1956. Graduated from the Department of Japanese Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1978. Has been exhibiting at Sogakai since the following year. In 1995, stayed in Ireland and the UK as an overseas dispatched staff member of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Has been a professor at Tama Art University since 2007 (retires in 2023). Paints scenes of children and women lost in thought in light-filled rooms. Has been highly praised for his intelligent, compositional and decorative paintings that evoke stories and allegories. Currently a member of Sogakai and a professor emeritus at Tama Art University.
Shiba Yasuhiro, “This usual road”, 2017, color on paper, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery CollectionMiya Itsuki, “Late Summer”, 2003, color on paper, private collection
Chapter 3: The Road – A variety of paintings expressing nostalgia, including fantasy, are on display. The strong yearning for a now lost past eventually finds its way to a fantastical landscape that transcends reality.
■IRIE Kazuko
Born in Daegu, Korea, during the Japanese colonial period in 1916. Her father’s family home is in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. In 1938, she graduated from the Western Painting Department of the Teacher Education Department of Joshibi College of Art and Design (now Joshibi University of Art and Design). She exhibited her work at the Independent Exhibition that same year, and continued to do so thereafter. In 1947, she joined the Association of Women Artists as a founding member. In 1969, she went on a sketching trip along the Silk Road. Since then, she has visited over 30 countries, and painting the landscapes and lives of the people there became her life’s work. She passed away in 2021 (aged 105).
■TAMAMUSHI Ryoji
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1956. Graduated from the Department of Oil Painting at Musashino Art University in 1979. Exhibited at the Issuikai Exhibition in the same year and has continued to exhibit ever since. Exhibited at the Yasui Award Exhibition (Seibu Museum of Art) in 1983. Received the Excellence Award at the Showakai Award Exhibition in 1997. Became a part-time lecturer at Musashino Art University in 2015. Reconstructing nostalgic scenes from the Showa era, he has established unique oil paintings that overlap with a sense of discomfort with modern society. He is currently a member of the Issuikai Executive Committee.
■KONDO Olga
Born in Belarus in 1958. Graduated from the Belarus State University of Fine Arts in 1983. Came to Japan in 2007 and has been living in Japan since then. Continued to exhibit at the Shinseisaku Association and became a member in 2017. Won the Excellence Award at the 1st Sompo Japan Art Award Exhibition (FACE2013) in 2013. Creates paintings that bring to life familiar family, nature, flowers and fruit from his homeland in deep spaces enveloped in milky white gradations and soft light. Currently a member of the Shinseisaku Association.
■ KUNO Kazuhiro
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1938. Graduated from the Western Painting Department of Musashino Art School in 1963. Studied in Europe and studied abroad from 1973-76 on a scholarship from the same art school. Became a member of the Rikki-kai in 1982. Studied in Italy as an overseas trainee sent by the Agency for Cultural Affairs from 1991-92. Became a professor at Musashino Art University in 2002. A researcher of European classical painting, he was highly acclaimed for his Earthscapes series, which feature deep space backed by profound matière. He will pass away in 2022 (aged 83).
Kazuko Irie, Sunrise in Istanbul, 1975, oil on canvas, Collection of Kazuko Irie Silk Road MuseumTamamushi Ryoji, Epoch (detail), 2019-23, oil on canvas, artist’s collectionKondo Olga, “Lemon under the Moon”, 2022, oil on canvas, private collectionKazuhiro Kuno, “Landscape of the Earth: Time and Moment”, 2004-05, oil on canvas, Nagoya Gallery Collection
◆Event Overview
■Exhibition name: Ueno Artist Project 2024 “Nostalgia – Scenes in Memory”
Ueno Artist Project 2024: Nostalgia ―Scenery in Memory
■Period: November 16, 2024 (Saturday) – January 8, 2025 (Wednesday)
■ Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Galleries A and C
■Closed days: November 18th (Monday), December 2nd (Monday), 16th (Monday), 21st (Saturday), 2024 – January 3rd (Friday), January 6th (Monday), 2025
■Opening hours: 9:30-17:30 (entry allowed until 30 minutes before closing)
■ Nighttime opening hours: Friday, November 22nd and Friday, November 29th: 9:30am-8:00pm (entry until 30 minutes before closing)
■ Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for those 65 and over, free for students and younger. * Free for those who have a disability certificate, love certificate, rehabilitation certificate, mental health and welfare certificate, or atomic bomb victim health certificate, and their attendant (up to one person) * Please show proof of identity. * Free for elementary, junior high, and high school students in Tokyo and those of similar status and their accompanying teachers who are viewing as part of a school education activity (application required in advance).
*Free admission upon showing a ticket for the special exhibition “Tanaka Isson Exhibition” (until December 1st) ■Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum ■Exhibition website https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2024_uenoartistproject.html
■Contact information: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum 03-3823-6921
[Concurrent Event] A Genealogy of Nostalgia: From the Taisho Era to the Present, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection Tokyo Metropolitan Collection Exhibition: Genealogy of Nostalgia ― From the Taisho Era to the Present
From the collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, we will be showcasing paintings of scenes from the past as well as photographs of modern city suburbs. By tracing the landscapes of Japan from the Taisho period to the present day, we hope to reconsider what it is about the “nostalgia” that people have found in them.
There is the “nostalgia” for the prewar Taisho and Showa eras that disappeared amid modernization, as captured by Kawase Hasui and Domon Ken, the “nostalgia” for American culture that flooded into Japan in large numbers after the war, and the “nostalgia” for the city and suburban streets that have been homogenizing and transforming repeatedly against the backdrop of rapid economic growth. Although each of these “nostalgia” comes from a completely different era and aspect, it may be a common emotion that can sprout in anyone’s heart. We hope that this exhibition, which considers the diversity and immutability of nostalgia, will serve as an opportunity to reflect on ourselves as we live in this turbulent modern and contemporary society.
A Genealogy of Nostalgia: From the Taisho Era to the Present, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection
Main exhibits
Kawase Hasui, Terashima Village at Night in the Snow, 1920, woodblock print, Edo-Tokyo Museum, TokyoNakahara Minoru, Nostalgia, 1924-25, oil on canvas, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo
[Event Summary]
■Exhibition title: Genealogy of Nostalgia – From the Taisho Era to the Present, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection ■Dates: Saturday, November 16, 2024 – Wednesday, January 8, 2025
■ Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Gallery B
■Closed: Monday 18th November, Monday 2nd December, Monday 16th December, Saturday 21st November, 2024 – Friday 3rd January, Monday 6th January, 2025 *Some exhibits will be changed out (first period: until Thursday 5th December).
■Opening hours: 9:30-17:30 (entry allowed until 30 minutes before closing)
■ Nighttime opening hours: Friday, November 22nd and Friday, November 29th: 9:30-20:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing)
■Admission fee: Free ■Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum ■In cooperation with: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
◆ Related businesses
■Talks and lectures Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Auditorium Capacity: 200 people per session *Participation is free, first come first served [Sign language interpretation available]
1. Artist Talk “Artists Talk about Nostalgia 1”
November 23rd (Saturday, holiday) 14:00-15:30
Tatsuya Abe and Ryoji Tamamushi
2. Artist Talk: “Artists Talk about Nostalgia 2”
December 1st (Sun) 14:00-15:30
Yasuhiro Shiba, Itsuki Miya
3. Artist Talk: “Artists Talk about Nostalgia 3”
Saturday, December 7th 14:00-15:30
Manami Minamizawa, Olga Kondo
4. Lecture by the curator in charge: “Nostalgia and Artists”
Saturday, December 14th 14:00-15:30
■Dance Well [Advance registration required]
“Dance Well” is a dance program that anyone can participate in, from children to adults, mainly for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Why not view the exhibition and express the sensations and images you have gained from it using your whole body?
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery, Studio Date and time:
1st Sunday, December 8, 2024 14:00-15:30
Instructor: Naoyuki Sakai (dancer, filmmaker, DanceWell instructor)
2nd session: January 4, 2025 (Sat) 14:00-15:30
Instructor: Sachiko Higashino (choreographer, director, dancer, representative of ANTIBODIES Collective, instructor at DanceWell)
Participation fee: Free (However, a same-day ticket for the “Nostalgia” exhibition is required)
Capacity: 20 people per session. Advance registration required. *Applications will be accepted from Friday, November 1st via the application form on our website. *Applications will be closed once capacity is reached on a first-come, first-served basis. *If you require a sign language interpreter, please apply one week prior to the event by writing “Sign language interpreter requested” in the comments section of the application form.
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Lecturer Introduction
Sakai Naoyuki <br />Dancer, filmmaker, dancewell instructor. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School. In addition to appearing in numerous stage productions both in Japan and abroad, he also appears in and provides choreography for music videos and musicals. Based in Kasukabe City, he organizes events and distributes videos with the aim of building towns through art. In 2023, he spent a year in Italy researching dancewell and its urban development as part of the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Budding Artists Overseas Training Scheme” program.
Higashino Sachiko
He is the founder of the performance art collective “ANTIBODIES Collective”, which is made up of choreographers, directors, dancers, and artists from various genres. He has won numerous awards, including the Toyota Award and Yokohama Dance Collection. He is the artistic director of All Japan Dance Track. In 2016, he was a lecturer at Dance Well in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. In the summer of 2019, he completed the Dance Well Teachers Course.
The National Museum of Western Art will be holding “Christmas at the Museum” from Tuesday, November 26, 2024 to Wednesday, December 25, 2024, for approximately one month, where visitors can enjoy a variety of events.
■ Purpose of the event <br />In the West, Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but in Japan it is loved by many people in various ways as one of the seasonal events. Why not add “spending Christmas at an art museum” to your enjoyment? Spend some time leisurely looking at paintings at the museum, or take part in a program with family and friends… This project, which began in 2007 with the desire to “make it easy for anyone to visit our museum,” is a seasonal winter event at our museum, which has a rich collection of Christian-themed artworks.
This event, which has usually been held mainly on weekends in December, will be held over a period of about one month this year. We have prepared events that can be enjoyed in various styles, from those with children and those visiting the museum for the first time to regular visitors, so please take advantage of this opportunity.
*Some programs require prior application. Please see our website for details.
Overview ①Everyone’s Christmas Carol Concert [Advance registration required]
This is an a cappella concert featuring songs related to Christmas. The lights in the auditorium will be kept bright, and you will be free to enter and exit the venue. Anyone, from small children to adults, can participate with peace of mind.
Last year’s event
Performed by: Ai Okada (soprano), Momoka Osawa (soprano), Masanori Taguchi (tenor), Naohito Sekiguchi (baritone)
Date and Time:
Saturday, December 14, 2024 15:00-15:40
Sunday, December 15, 2024 11:00-11:40
Capacity: 100 people per session Target: Anyone Participation fee: Free Venue: Auditorium (2nd basement floor)
How to participate: Advance registration required * Small children are welcome. Cushions are available for rent for children.
*The lights in the auditorium will not be dimmed completely.
*Applicants are free to enter and exit as they wish.
*There is a “free area” that you can use if you find it difficult to return to your seat or if you want to move seats temporarily.
*Wheelchair seats and wheelchair accessible seats are available.
*Assistance dogs are permitted.
*The building has nursing rooms, diaper changing stations, strollers and wheelchairs available for rental.
②Gallery Talk [Registration on the day]
Several works related to Christianity and Christmas from the permanent exhibition will be selected, and volunteer staff from the museum will provide commentary on the highlights of the works.
Last year’s event
Date and Time:
Saturday, December 14, 2024, 11:00-11:30 *Sign language interpretation included: Anyone can participate, whether they use sign language or not.
Saturday, December 14, 2024 13:00-13:30
Sunday, December 15, 2024 11:00-11:30
Sunday, December 15, 2024 13:00-13:30
Capacity: 15 people per session (first come, first served)
Participation fee: Free (However, a permanent exhibition ticket is required)
Venue: Permanent Exhibition Room Reception: 19th Century Hall (1st floor of the main building)
How to participate: Registration on the day (no prior registration required)
③ Volunteer tour * Sign language interpretation available [Registration on the day]
This is a drop-in program planned and run by volunteer staff at the museum, and no reservation is required. We plan to have events that anyone from children to adults can easily participate in, such as enjoying simple creative activities related to works in our collection. Themes and details will be posted on our website at a later date.
Sign language interpreters will be available, so those who use sign language can participate with confidence.
Last year’s event
Date and Time:
Saturday, December 14, 2024 10:00-15:00
Sunday, December 15, 2024 10:00-15:00
*The event will end as soon as materials run out each day.
Participation fee: Free (However, a permanent exhibition ticket is required)
Target audience: Anyone Venue: Workshop Room (New Building 2nd floor, near the Print and Drawing Room)
Reception location: Same as above How to participate: Registration on the day (no prior application required)
④Winter only! Audio guide “Curator’s Voice”
This is an audio commentary on works by our museum researchers, available only in the winter season. They will introduce about 10 works from the permanent exhibition, based on the exhibitions they are in charge of and their daily research activities. You can enjoy the in-depth commentary by the researchers for free.
Please scan the 2D barcode at the information desk to access the audio guide web app. Please bring your smartphone and earphones when using it in the exhibition room. A script is included, so text information is also provided.
⑤Kawasaki Free Sunday Quiz Rally <br />Kawasaki Free Sunday, our monthly free admission day for the permanent exhibition, will feature a quiz rally on Sunday, December 8, 2024 only. Those who answer all questions correctly will receive original merchandise.
*Please note that original goods are available in limited quantities.
■Be sure to check out the permanent museum exhibition shop and restaurant, both of which are unique to the Christmas season!
● SHOP
Our original packaged Kaminariokoshi is available with ribbons tied around it during the Christmas season (limited quantities). We have also created a replica of a ring from the Hashimoto Collection. The words engraved on the ring are romantic: “My heart is sincere” (outside of the hoop) and “All yours” (inside of the hoop). Why not give it as a gift together with the Hashimoto Collection “Rings” catalogue?
Pound chocolate \2,400 (tax included)Kaminariokoshi \864 (tax included)Replica ring (Posey ring) sizes 9, 13, and 15 \15,800 (tax included)Hashimoto Collection Ring Catalog \3,200 (tax included)
●CAFÉ SuirenWe offer a roast beef course as well as original Christmas cakes.
Roast beef course \3,300 (tax included)
■Exhibitions held at the museum during the Christmas period
・Special exhibition “Monet’s Water Lilies”
Period: Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (National Holiday) Venue: Special Exhibition Room, Small Special Exhibition “Augustus John and His Era – Modern British Art from the Matsukata Collection”
Period: Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (National Holiday) Venue: Print and Painting Exhibition Room (Permanent Exhibition Room)
About the National Museum of Western Art
Museum name | National Museum of Western Art Location | 7-7 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays during the Monet exhibition) *Entry is permitted until 30 minutes before closing. Closed on Mondays (open on public holidays and closed the following weekday), New Year’s holidays (December 28, 2024 – January 1, 2025) *For the latest information on opening hours and closing days, please check the “Announcements” page on the official website of the National Museum of Western Art.
Admission fee for permanent exhibition (tax included) | Adults 500 yen, University students 250 yen * Free for those with a disability certificate and one accompanying person * Special exhibitions are charged separately Contact | 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
National Museum of Western Art Official Website | https://www.nmwa.go.jp/
A relaxing space connecting the forest, town and station
JR East Cross Station Development Company, Ltd. will participate in "Pandabashi Picnic 2024 Autumn," an event to promote the attractions of the region, held in collaboration between East Japan Railway Company (hereinafter referred to as JR East) and Taito Ward on "Panda Bridge," an east-west free passage connecting the Iriya ticket gate of JR Ueno Station to the town of Ueno and Ueno Park.
The theme of this event is "A relaxing space that connects the forest, town and station." We will be providing alcoholic drinks and food, as well as railway-themed workshops, creating a relaxing space that both adults and children can enjoy together.
Pandabashi Picnic 2024 Autumn Event Overview
■Date and time:
October 26th (Sat) and 27th (Sun)
26th (Sat): 12:00-19:00 / 27th (Sun): 12:00-18:00
*Only some events will be held in the event of rain.
*Event cancellations will be announced on the relevant websites and social media.
■ Location: Panda Bridge outside the Iriya ticket gates at JR Ueno Station
■Organizer: East Japan Railway Company (Tokyo Moving Line)
■Co-organized by: Taito Ward, JR East Cross Station Development Company, Ltd.
■ Cooperation: JR East Sports Co., Ltd. (Jexer Fitness & Spa Ueno), JR East Urban Development Co., Ltd., Iwakura High School
■ Participating shops (operated by JR East Cross Station Development Company)
・noie…sells natural wine and curry bread
・Higurashi Bookstore: A collection of bookstores from the neighborhood. Used books and books for sale.
・CERA STORE…Sales of second-hand clothes, antiques, and used books
・TONTOKOBOY…Sales of craft beer, etc.
・VectorBrewing: Craft beer sales, etc.
・Snack Linne…drinks and food sales, brooch-making workshop
・Guruguru Gelato…gelato for sale
・Asakusa Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: Leather ticket workshop, railway goods sales
A collection of shops offering a relaxing atmosphere
Shops and experience corners will be set up on the Panda Bridge, which connects Ueno Park and the station, with the theme of "a relaxing space connecting the forest, town, and station."
[List of participating shops]
[noie] Natural wine and curry bread for sale[Higurashi Bookstore] Neighborhood bookstores gather together. Used books and books for sale[CERA STORE] Selling used clothing, antiques, and second-hand books[TONTOKOBOY] Craft beer sales, etc.[VectorBrewing] Craft beer sales, etc.[Snack Linnaeus] Drinks and food sales, brooch-making workshop[Guruguru Gelato] Gelato sales[Asakusa Vehicle Manufacturing] Leather ticket workshop, railway goods sales (10/27 only)
Various workshops are also held
Various workshops will be held under the theme of "A relaxing space that connects the forest, town, and station." You can enjoy art, experience railroad work, or get some exercise. Please enjoy your time in your own way.
Date and time: Saturday, October 26th, 12:00-16:30 (every 30 minutes)
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Lecturer: JR East employee
Number of participants: 1 person per session x 2 courses
Participation fee: [Regular course] 3,000 yen (tax included)
[Upgrade Course] 4,000 yen (tax included) *This is an experience using the real master controller used on the E217 series.
How to participate: Advance reservation at JRE MALL
[Reservation page]
・Normal course https://event.jreast.co.jp/activity/detail/a002/a002-097
・Upgrade course (using E217 series master controller) https://event.jreast.co.jp/activity/detail/a002/a002-98
■ Original Clock Making Art Workshop (10/27 only)
Date and time: Sunday, October 27th, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Lecturer: NiJi$uKe (Nijiaki Doi)
Number of participants: 12 people per session
Participation fee: 4,500 yen (tax included)
How to participate: Advance reservation on the experiential event site (aini)
[Reservation page] https://helloaini.com/travels/49375?prcd=rdX6
■Fitness by instructors from JEXER FITNESS CLUB
Date and Time:
・ZUMBA
October 26th (Saturday) 13:00
・LESMILLS BODY ATTACK
October 26 (Sat) 14:30
・LESMILLS DANCE
October 27th (Sun) 13:00
・LESMILLS BODY COMBAT
October 27 (Sun) 14:30
[Participation Benefits]
①One free drink
② Use of the spa at "Jexer Fitness & Spa Ueno" on the day
*Jexer Fitness & Spa Ueno https://www.jexer.jp/fitness/ueno/
■Cork doll and spinning panda brooch
Date and Time:
October 26th (Sat) 12:00-19:00
October 27th (Sun) 12:00-18:00
Duration: 30 minutes
Lecturer: Chihiro Iijima
Number of participants: 6 people per session
Participation fee: Workshop 1,000 yen (tax included)
1 drink set: 1,500 yen (tax included)
How to participate:
[Reservation page] https://snakrinne1026-27.peatix.com/
*Slots available on the day are on a first-come, first-served basis.
■Make your own one-of-a-kind Kawa no Ticket® at the Panda Bridge at JR Ueno Station (only on 10/27)
Date and time: Sunday, October 27th, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
Time required: 20 minutes (per piece)
Lecturer: Asakusa Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Number of participants: 8 tickets per session / 40 tickets per day (up to 3 tickets per person)
Participation fee: 1,650 yen (tax included), patterned ticket + 330 yen (tax included)
How to participate: Reservation slots (20 tickets) + same-day slots (20 tickets)
[Reservation page] https://passmarket.yahoo.co.jp/event/show/detail/02x0cahcz2141.html
*Slots available on the day are on a first-come, first-served basis.
We also introduce other events!
■Dance performance by Iwakura High School Dance Club "Burst" (10/26 only)
A dance performance by first and second year students from the local Iwakura High School dance club "Burst." Enjoy their powerful dance!
Date and time: Saturday, October 26th, 16:00-17:00
Planning cooperation: Iwakura High School
Participation fee: Free
Demonstration experiment of utilization of "Panda Bridge," an east-west connecting passage at JR Ueno Station
Based on the Ueno District Urban Development Vision, East Japan Railway Company and Taito Ward are working to create a new base that everyone will want to use, with the aim of improving the mobility of Ueno Forest and the city. Since December 2022, a demonstration experiment has been conducted on Panda Bridge with new ways of spending time and using the bridge, with the aim of making the bridge a comfortable space. Through repeated verification of safety, comfort, etc., we will continue to develop the unique character of Panda Bridge.
A look at the "Panda Bridge Picnic," the fourth Panda Bridge utilization demonstration experiment conducted in March 2024
About "TOKYO MOVING ROUND"
In line with its group management vision, "Move Up 2027," JR East is shifting from "provision of railway-based services" to "creation of people-based value and services" with the aim of realizing "enriched lives" for everyone in the local community.
In addition to services that improve the convenience of everyday life, including transportation, we will create a rich urban living space by bringing out the individuality of diverse towns and people and creating connections between stations, stations and towns, people and towns, and people and people.
As part of this, the Tokyo Moving Line is working on art initiatives, providing opportunities to casually enjoy art at everyday stations. Working with various curators, we are developing galleries that exhibit art in corners of station facilities and provide opportunities to casually interact with art, with the theme of "daily life connected to art."
Participating artists: Akiko Nakayama, Eiichi Sawado, and others The food court, produced by J-WAVE’s event “INSPIRE TOKYO,” will be held from Friday, October 25th.
The Ueno Tourism Association will be holding a light art event called “Peace of Light” around Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, an urban oasis.
The art installation on the banks of Shinobazu Pond (Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th) and the live performance on the Waterside Music Hall Outdoor Stage (Saturday, October 26th) will be performed by painter Akiko Nakayama, with music by Eiichi Sawatari.
The food and beverage area, which will open in advance from Friday, October 25th, is produced by “INSPIRE TOKYO,” an event hosted by the radio station J-WAVE (81.3FM). A wide variety of delicious food and drinks will be available, from piping hot dogs and hamburgers to international food such as Vietnamese, Palestinian, and Korean cuisine, to craft beer, freshly brewed coffee, and sweets. This fall, be sure to enjoy art installations, music, and food by Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park.
[Date, Time and Location] “Peace of Light”
– Art installation: Akiko Nakayama and Eiichi Sawatari’s new video “Melting Waterscape” Location: Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park (in front of the Lotus View Deck)
Saturday, October 26, 2024 and Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 12:00 to 22:00 (free admission)
・Live performance “Alive Painting” is constantly transforming, using the energy of Akiko Nakayama’s colors and flow. A fusion of music played by Eiichi Sawatari!
※image
Location: Ueno Park Water Music Hall Outdoor Stage
Held only on Saturday, October 26, 2023. Doors open at 17:00. Performance begins at 17:30 and ends at 20:00. *Advance tickets (500 yen including tax) are on sale at Lawson Ticket . https://l-tike.com/search/?keyword=70391
* Same-day tickets (500 yen including tax)
* Attendees will be given a glow stick wristband as a special gift (present your wristband at participating stores in Ueno Shopping Street after the show to receive the special gift only on Saturday, October 26th).
*Proceeds from admission fees will be donated to Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis relief fund through the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Scheduled artists: Akiko Nakayama, Eiichi Sawatari, style-3!, Aoi MichelE
■Akiko Nakayama Profile
He will perform a performance called “Alive Painting,” in which he creates pictures by using various materials, from liquids to solids, to react with each other.
He vividly depicts all manner of phenomena and colors in his work as metaphors for living things and relationships.
The works, in which various mediums and colors blend together and change, are like improvised poetry.
In recent years, he has worked on projects such as the Ars Electronica festival (Linz, Austria), MUTEK Montreal, the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the opening video for the historical drama “Hikaru Kimi e.” https://www.akikopainting.com
・Food and drink area produced by “INSPIRE TOKYO” (free admission) Location: Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park (in front of the Lotus View Deck)
Friday, October 25, Saturday, October 26, Sunday, October 27, 2024 12:00-21:00
*All events will proceed rain or shine, but will be canceled if there is severe weather.
In addition, a digital stamp rally will be held at the same time, where you can win tickets to the live performance at the Mizukami Music Hall Outdoor Stage on Saturday, October 26th!
Check out the official website for more details!
■Organizer: Ueno Tourism Association, Supported by: Taito Ward, J-WAVE *For more information, please visit the Peace of Light official website. URL:https://ueno.or.jp/peaceoflight/
Saturday, October 26, 2024 – Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Ueno Geidai Art Plaza (free admission)
A special exhibition titled “Beautiful Foolishness – Were we born to play?” will be held from Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the “Geidai Art Plaza” gallery on the campus of the Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Fine Arts (Ueno,TaitoWard), a collaborative project between Shogakukan and Tokyo University of the Arts. The exhibition will feature works by approximately 10 artists associated with the university. Admission is free, and photography is generally allowed. Children are welcome.
Special exhibition “Beautiful Foolishness – Were we born to play?” to be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024
Okakura Tenshin, who served as principal of Tokyo School of Fine Arts, the predecessor of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts, ended the first chapter of his book “The Book of Tea” with these words.
“Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.”
(Let us dream of transience for a moment, and surrender to the beautiful stupidity of things.)
The word “foolishness” is usually only used in a negative sense. By describing it as “beautiful,” Tenshin seems to be paying the highest praise to things or things that are utilitarian and useless, or to seemingly worthless existences that are freed from social contexts and relationships.
In addition, the “Ryōjin Hishō”, compiled by Emperor Goshirakawa, who could be called the emperor of pop in Japan, contains a passage that had a major influence on subsequent literary works: “Was I born to play? Was I born to frolic?”
This time, the Tokyo University of the Arts Art Plaza focused on two phrases: “Beautiful Folly” and “Was I Born to Play?” We wondered if it would be good to have art that exists like that.
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the “beautiful and silly” and “born for fun” works created by Tokyo University of the Arts artists.
■ Overview of the special exhibition <br />Special exhibition name: Special exhibition “Beautiful Foolishness – Were we born to play?”
Venue: Geidai Art Plaza (Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, 12-8 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Dates: Saturday, October 26, 2024 – Sunday, December 8, 2024
Admission fee: Free Opening hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: Mondays *Business hours may change. Please check the official website or SNS for the latest information.
■ List of artists scheduled to exhibit: Haruna Asanoi / Kanshin Imai / Ryo Ogata / Kenichi Kato / Aya Kurashiki / Shotarou Sanada / Hinako Suda / Honami Matsuo / Juri Hayashi / Naoko Hayashi
What is Geidai Art Plaza?
The Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) has produced many top artists, and the gallery “Geidai Art Plaza” exhibits and sells works by faculty, students, and graduates of the university. It is one of the precious places on the Ueno campus of the university that is open to the public throughout the year. It began operation in 2018 as a collaborative project between Shogakukan and the University of the Arts.
Currently, exhibitions with different themes are held every one or two months. Each special exhibition features 10 to 50 artists, who bring together works that are expressed using the diverse techniques and approaches unique to Tokyo University of the Arts, including oil painting, Japanese painting, sculpture, crafts, and design.
Exhibition view of the special exhibition “Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition – Geidai Stars” to be held from August to October 2024 https://artplaza.geidai.ac.jp/column/25284/
Inside the store, there is a permanent exhibition corner called “LIFE WITH ART” that focuses on art that fits into daily life, such as tableware and accessories, and a bookshelf that is linked to special exhibitions. During the store’s business hours, you can take a break with a cafe drink from the outdoor food truck “NoM cafe”.
Admission to the Tokyo University of the Arts Art Plaza is free. Taking photos and sharing them on social media is also welcome. We aim to be a place where anyone, not just art fans, can easily experience art.
Exhibition view of the permanent corner “LIFE WITH ART”
Geidai Art Plaza Basic Information
■ Access Nearest station: JR Ueno Station (Park Exit) or Uguisudani Station, approx. 10-minute walk Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Nezu Station, approx. 10-minute walk Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Ueno Station, approx. 15-minute walk Keisei Electric Railway, Keisei Ueno Station, approx. 15-minute walk Toei Bus Route 26 (Kameido – Ueno Park), Yanaka bus stop, approx. 3-minute walk *Please note that there is no parking lot, so please do not come by car.
East Japan Railway Company opened the entire "PLATFORM13" at Ueno Station, a model station for the "Beyond Stations Concept," on August 1, 2024.
Ueno Station is a cultural creation hub and disseminates various cultures, and as part of this initiative, PLATFORM13 will be broadcasting the railway x art content "Famous Trains from Ueno" from August 30th. By combining the famous trains that have colored the history of Ueno Station with digital graphics and calligraphy art, you can experience the world-famous Japanese cultures of "railroads" and "calligraphy" through the dynamic video space of PLATFORM13.
Additionally, together with Epson Sales Corporation and Flyby Inc., we will be conducting a demonstration experiment in which a QR code based on railway graphics will be projected onto station platforms using a projector, combining it with railway images generated by generative AI.
1. About the broadcast of the railway x art content "Famous Trains Departing from Ueno Station"
By combining eight famous trains that have coloured the railway culture and stories of each era throughout the long history of Ueno Station with the techniques of digital graphics and calligraphy, an art created by human sensibility and real hands, we will develop this as innovative railway culture promotion content.
In addition to tracing the history of Ueno Station, images of famous trains in their heyday are projected onto a 100m-long wall, creating a dynamic presentation that makes you feel as if you are actually watching trains approaching and receding, combined with impressive calligraphy art of the trains' nicknames written by calligraphers, allowing you to experience magnificent art that also evokes nostalgia.
(1) Broadcast location: Ueno Station, Platform 13 (2) Broadcast period: August 30, 2024 (Friday) to October 14, 2024 (Monday/holiday) (3) Broadcast time: 8:00-21:30* (4) Trains featured: Toki Express, Asama Express, Hakutsuru Sleeper Express, Hitachi Express Sleeper Express Akebono Sleeper Express Hokutosei Sleeper Express Cassiopeia E5 Series Shinkansen Hayabusa
(※)・Broadcasting will be suspended during the following times.
From September 30th onwards: Mondays 4:00-11:30/Thursdays 16:00-19:00/Saturdays 4:00-11:30/Sundays 16:00-19:00
・Due to circumstances such as transportation disruptions, access to platform 13 may be restricted or broadcasting may be stopped without prior notice.
<Broadcast image>
About Calligraphy Art
By employing internationally active calligrapher SHIN-REI, who has a track record of collaborating with various cultural scenes such as sports, music, games, and fashion, and who has performed calligraphy at the Louvre Museum and written the title characters for the Judo Grand Slam Osaka 2019, we have created calligraphy art that is suitable for video content that will disseminate cultural values to the world at Ueno Station as a "cultural creation hub."
Mr. Mamio
2. Demonstration experiment of QR code projection fused with railway images using generative AI
In conjunction with the broadcast of the railway x art content "Famous Trains at Ueno Station," a demonstration experiment of new technology utilizing projected images will be conducted at PLATFORM13 with the cooperation of Epson Sales Co., Ltd. and Flyby Inc.
A QR code fused with a train graphic image generated by AI will be projected onto the station platform. By reading this QR code with a smartphone camera, users can access a special page on the JRE MALL website featuring merchandise for the eight famous trains.
QR code (image)
[Reference] Shin-Rei
Calligrapher MaMio
She started calligraphy at the age of 7. She has won numerous awards at the Yomiuri Calligraphy Exhibition and the Japan Calligraphy Institute Exhibition. She is active not only in Japan, but also in Europe, America, and Asia, where she has performed calligraphy at the Louvre Museum in France, and is active globally, holding workshops and solo exhibitions. She is also actively exploring new possibilities and fields of calligraphy, such as the world's first collaboration between calligrapher Mae and Waterlight Graffiti.
[Reference] The vision of the "Beyond Stations Concept"
Starting with the goal of enriching people's lives, we will transform the layout and function of station spaces while taking advantage of the strengths of stations as real-world exchange hubs, and by expanding the JRE POINT living area, we will transform stations from "transportation hubs" to "life platforms."
At our model station, Ueno Station, we will continue to expand our services that combine the real world and online, and realize the "enriching lifestyle" that only we can provide.
Saturday, August 17, 2024 – Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Ueno Geidai Art Plaza (free admission)
A special exhibition, “Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition – Geidai Stars” will be held from Saturday, August 17, 2024 at the gallery “Geidai Art Plaza ( https://artplaza.geidai.ac.jp/ )” on the campus of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Tokyo University of the Arts (Ueno, Taito Ward), a collaborative project between Shogakukan and Tokyo University of the Arts. This exhibition will display and sell works by approximately 30 artists associated with Geidai. Admission is free, and photography is generally allowed. Children are welcome.
Special exhibition “Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition” to be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024
The Geidai Art Plaza Grand Prize is an annual art competition for Geidai students that has been running for about 20 years. Starting this year, the name has changed to Geidai Art Plaza Art Award, and new categories such as the Shogakukan Prize and JR East Prize have been established, as well as a digital art category.
This year, we will be holding the “Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition,” which brings together new works from past winners of the fine arts division. There will be a wide range of ages and genres, from current students of the Tokyo University of the Arts who are expected to have a bright future, to works by graduates who are attracting attention as artists. Please enjoy the exhibition, which allows you to experience the “now” of each artist.
■ Overview of the special exhibition <br />Title of the special exhibition: “Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition – The Stars of Geidai”
Venue: Geidai Art Plaza (Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, 12-8 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Date: August 17th (Sat) – October 20th (Sun), 2024
First term: August 17th (Sat) – September 15th (Sun), 2024
Second semester: September 21, 2024 (Sat) – October 20, 2024 (Sun)
*Closed from Monday, September 16th to Friday, September 20th due to exhibition change Admission fee: Free Opening hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: Mondays
*Business days and times may change. Please check the official website or SNS for the latest information.
Later period : Rika Oshima, Shintaro Ogura, Moe Kato, Aimi Saito, Hinata Sugimoto, Yohei Chimura, Eri Nomura, Haruna Horiguchi, Tatsushi Mizushiro, Haruho Mitsuda, Yuya Yasukochi, and RO KIKO
What is Geidai Art Plaza?
The Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) has produced many top artists, and the gallery “Geidai Art Plaza” exhibits and sells works by faculty, students, and graduates of the university. It is one of the precious places on the Ueno campus of the university that is open to the public throughout the year. It began operation in 2018 as a collaborative project between Shogakukan and the university.
Currently, exhibitions with different themes are held every one or two months. Each special exhibition features 10 to 50 artists, who bring together works that are expressed using the diverse techniques and approaches unique to Tokyo University of the Arts, including oil painting, Japanese painting, sculpture, crafts, and design.
Inside the store, there is a permanent exhibition corner called “LIFE WITH ART” that focuses on art that fits into daily life, such as tableware and accessories, and a bookshelf that is linked to special exhibitions. During the store’s business hours, you can take a break with a cafe drink from the outdoor food truck “NoM cafe”.
Admission to the Tokyo University of the Arts Art Plaza is free. Taking photos and sharing them on social media is also welcome. We aim to be a place where anyone, not just art fans, can easily experience art.
Exhibition view of the permanent corner “LIFE WITH ART”
Geidai Art Plaza Basic Information
■ Access <br />Nearest station: JR Ueno Station (Park Exit) or Uguisudani Station, approx. 10-minute walk; Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Nezu Station, approx. 10-minute walk; Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Ueno Station, approx. 15-minute walk; Keisei Electric Railway, Keisei Ueno Station, approx. 15-minute walk; Toei Bus, Kami26 (Kameido – Ueno Park), Yanaka bus stop, approx. 3-minute walk *Please note that there is no parking lot, so please do not come by car.
