Category: Report

Tokyo National Museum

Koetsu Hon’ami lived in an era of war, excelled in the arts, and created innovative works.

As the title suggests, the special exhibition to be held at the Heiseikan of the Tokyo National Museum, “The Macrocosm of Hon’ami Koetsu,” shines a light on his faith and inner world through a number of works.

This article reports on the press preview held the day before the event.

Who is Hon’ami Koetsu?

Hon’ami Koetsu , who was active in the early Edo period, was born into a prestigious family of Japanese sword appraisers, and was an artist who had a great influence on later Japanese culture.
Not only was he highly regarded by the Tokugawa shogunate and feudal lords for his excellent skill in making swords, which was his family trade, but he was also known as a calligrapher (master calligrapher), and was also known for his skills in pottery and lacquer art. He was involved in a variety of forms, including publishing, and left behind excellent works for future generations.

“A person who has been flattered all his life and is completely embarrassed” and “a stranger” (“Hon’ami Gyojoki”)
Koetsu, who was praised for his deep faith and sparkling spirit, continues to receive high acclaim, with many of the exquisite pieces he created being designated as national treasures and important cultural properties.

Approaching the aesthetic sense of the eccentric Koetsu Hon’ami

This exhibition is

Chapter 1 The Hon’ami Family’s Household Work and the Lotus Faith – The Source of Koetsu’s Art
Chapter 2 Utaihon and Koetsu Makie – Explosive words and forms
Chapter 3 Koetsu’s brush strokes and letterforms – virtuosity in two-dimensional space
Chapter 4 Koetsu Tea Bowl – Earthen Sword

This chapter allows us to explore Koetsu Hon’ami’s aesthetic sense through a number of exquisite works.

In addition to Koetsu’s own calligraphy and pottery, the museum exhibits lacquer work created by craftsmen who gathered together under the same faith, as well as works created in response to the social conditions of the time. Furthermore, we focus on the Hon’ami family’s beliefs as well as the society of the Hokke townspeople at the time, creating an exhibition structure that provides a comprehensive view of the state of Koetsu.

In particular, the fourth and final chapter, “Koetsu Tea Bowls – Swords of the Earth,” exhibits many breathtakingly elegant bowls, including “Kuraku Tea Bowl Named Shigure” (Important Cultural Property) by Hon’ami Koetsu. This gives it the feel of being the highlight of this exhibition.

Here you can see works selected by genre from the works exhibited in each chapter.

lacquer

A chain of images woven by the world of literature and calligraphy

The Funahashi Makie Inkstone Box, a national treasure, sits at the entrance to this exhibition and astonishes visitors with its brilliance and shape.
This inkstone box is famous as a masterpiece of Hon’ami Koetsu (1558-1637), and its distinctive feature is the raised, chevron-shaped lid. The whole body is rectangular with rounded corners, and the lid is made larger than the body.

The entire surface of the box is densely sprinkled with gold powder, small boats are lined up in the pattern of waves, and the space between them is filled with fine ripples, and silver poetry letters are inlaid high into the box.

sword

Famous swords carefully selected by the Hon’ami family’s aesthetic sense

The only sword that has been passed down as the Sashiryo of Koetsu has been exhibited to the public for the first time in about 40 years.

The author, Kaneuji, was a swordsmith who was active in Shizu, Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture) from the end of the Kamakura period to the first half of the Nanbokucho period. The backs of the fingers are inlaid with gold, a “hanagamami” that is said to be Koetsu’s brush, and the accompanying sword holder is decorated with delicate grass that wraps around the entire scabbard in gold lacquer, making it extremely gorgeous.

If you decipher the meaning of the words and designs of the gold inlay on the flower keepsake and the gold lacquer on the creeping grass, will you be able to see Koetsu’s hidden feelings?

book

Representative works of Koetsu’s most fulfilling period

A volume of writing paper depicting a flock of flying cranes in gold and silver paint, with 36 poems from 36 poets up to the Heian period scattered on it. The shape and layout of the letters are skillfully changed to match the rise and fall of the cranes and the density of the flock, and you will be amazed at the sense of dynamism.
The calligraphy, which develops in cooperation with or even in competition with sketches attributed to Sotatsu Tawaraya, is said to be a representative work from the period when Koetsu exhibited his most fulfilling style.

This exhibition will be a very valuable opportunity as all volumes will be exhibited at once.

Pottery

Famous bowls that still have an overwhelming presence

Raku tea bowls are shaped by hand and carved with a spatula, and the tea bowls that are said to have been created by Koetsu have designs that give the impression of Koetsu’s own hand movements in various places. .
However, this work is characterized by suppressing this, giving an overall impression of tranquility. It is also known that Morikawa Nyoshunan, a sukiyakusha from Nagoya, acquired it at the young age of 16.

Event overview

*The contents of the article are as of the time of interview. Please check the official exhibition website for details as the information may differ from the latest information. Additionally, the works featured in this article may have already been exhibited.

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National Museum of Nature and Science

Since being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013, Japanese cuisine has been attracting more and more attention worldwide.

Its charm, which many Japanese people seem to know but surprisingly don't know about, can be explained from a variety of perspectives, such as the diverse ingredients nurtured by the nature of the Japanese archipelago, techniques such as fermentation created by people's wisdom and ingenuity, cooking methods, and historical changes. A special exhibition "Japanese Cuisine – Japanese Nature and People's Wisdom" is currently being held at the National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno, Tokyo). The exhibition period is until February 25, 2024 (Sunday).

Since I covered this exhibition, I will report on the situation at the venue.

*This exhibition was scheduled to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus and will be held again.

Food from the mountains, food from the sea. Japanese food culture nurtured by diverse ingredients

The exhibition consists of six chapters.

The first chapter is an introduction that uses a video to ask the question, "What is Japanese food?" Next, the second chapter, “Ingredients grown in the archipelago,'' will be displayed, occupying approximately half of the venue.

Starting with water, which is the basis of food, we then move on to mushrooms, wild plants, vegetables, seaweed, seafood… The rich ingredients brought to you by the Japanese archipelago, which stretches more than 3,000 km from north to south and has one of the world's greatest biodiversity, will be presented scientifically using over 250 actual specimens and models, while also discussing topics such as fermentation techniques and soup stock. is explained.

For example, in the water exhibition area, space is devoted to explaining the hardness of water, such as soft water and hard water.

The hardness of water changes depending on the type of geology and how long rainwater, which is the source of daily water (hardness itself is almost zero), lingers, and minerals such as calcium and magnesium are present in 1 liter of water. It depends on how many mg it contains.

According to WHO standards, less than 60 ml/L is soft water, 120 ml/L or more is hard water, and anything in between is medium hard water. Water in Japan is basically soft water due to its steep terrain, high rainfall, and short water retention time. Soft water has no taste and ingredients dissolve easily in the water, making it suitable for Japanese cuisine that uses dashi stock to bring out the flavor of the ingredients.

On the other hand, continental Europe has a flat topography and slow flow, so there is a lot of hard water, and hard water makes it difficult for ingredients to dissolve and break down when boiled, so stews and other stews using meat have become widely established as home cooking. Ta.

I often hear people say, “Japan is a country with soft water, so if you travel to a country with hard water, some people find it hard to drink water or get upset stomachs.'' Some people may not know that the ease of use also varies depending on the water quality. It turns out that soft water greatly contributed to the development of Japan's food culture.

Although it is said that Japan is a country with soft water, there are significant regional differences, and there are some places with hard water. The exhibit displayed plastic bottles of natural water of various hardnesses sold from all over Japan, and explained and compared the topography and geology from which the water can be harvested.

Furthermore, Japan's varied topography and climate, including lowlands, highlands, subtropics, and cool-temperate zones, contribute to the diversity of vegetation, especially mushrooms. Of the approximately 20,000 species of mushrooms known around the world, it is said that around 2,500 to 3,000 species, about 10% of which have names, are distributed in Japan.

In the mushroom exhibition area, we focused on the fact that wild mushrooms such as truffles and boletus, which are considered luxury foodstuffs in Europe and America, are also distributed in Japan. These are produced in large quantities, and although it is hard to imagine that the Japanese of ancient times did not know of their existence, they were not used as ingredients in Japanese cuisine. On the other hand, slimy mushrooms such as nameko and enokitake, which Japanese people prefer, tend to be disliked in Western countries.

It is interesting to see the extreme difference between mushrooms that occur in the same way, being prized on the one hand and ignored on the other. In this way, the exhibition featured many attempts to illuminate the image of “Japanese food'' from a perspective that extends to the rest of the world.

Seafood is a protein source often used in Japanese cuisine. The variety of seafood eaten in Japan is said to be one of the best in the world.The Japanese archipelago is surrounded by a variety of water environments, from the Sea of Okhotsk covered in drift ice to the Ryukyu Islands with mangrove forests and coral reefs.There are approximately 4,700 types of fish alone in Japan. Are the types distributed?

In order to introduce the different migratory routes and habitats of each species, an interactive video exhibit has been prepared in the seafood exhibition area. By placing your hand over the shadows of the various seafood that appear in the seas around the Japanese archipelago each season, information about that seafood will be displayed, making it a fun way to learn.

As a valuable exhibit, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University, who is known for discovering and naming the deliciousness typified by dashi soup, “umami'', actually produced glutamic acid (“Umami''), an umami component extracted from kelp. No. 1 extract distilled tami acid") is mentioned.

Today, umami is globally accepted as “UMAMI''. Umami was discovered by Dr. Ikeda in 1908 as a fifth taste that is different from the long-known sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastes. However, “dashi'' itself, which is made by extracting umami ingredients such as glutamic acid, inosinic acid, and guanylic acid from ingredients such as kelp and bonito flakes, has a much older history and has already appeared in literature from the Muromachi period. The umami flavor of dashi does not rely on animal fats and oils, but rather brings out the flavor of the ingredients, making it an essential part of Japanese cuisine, which tends to be bland and centered around soups and vegetables.

Additionally, when you taste the amino acid glutamic acid and the nucleic acid-based umami components inosinic acid and guanylic acid at the same time, there is a phenomenon called “umami synergy,'' in which the umami taste is significantly stronger than when they are consumed alone. This phenomenon was discovered in 1960, and the mechanism was only recently elucidated in 2008, but the combination of kelp (glutamic acid) and bonito flakes (inosinic acid) has become popular in Japanese cuisine. It is said that this was during the Edo period.

The dashi display gave us a glimpse of the insatiable inquisitive spirit of our ancestors, who, even though they didn't know the existence of umami, used it in their cooking from experience.

What did Himiko and Nobunaga eat? There is also a reproduction display of recipes from the Edo period.

There are many highlights in the second half of the venue, especially in Chapter 3, “The Origin of Japanese Cuisine,'' which unravels the history of Japanese cuisine from the Jomon period to the present day, and features historical figures such as Himiko, Oda Nobunaga, Admiral Perry, and Emperor Meiji. One of the highlights of this exhibition is the display that recreates the dining tables of famous people .

Since the Nara period, when the original form of Japanese cuisine centered around rice and fish was established, with meat consumption considered unclean and avoided, it has developed into various forms such as vegetarian cuisine, honzen cuisine, and kaiseki cuisine, but these are limited. It was something that could only be offered to people in certain places and positions. It wasn't until the Edo period that Japanese food culture made remarkable progress, and knowledge and techniques spread to the common people. Major factors behind this are said to be the development of restaurants, the factory production of fermented seasonings, and the spread of cookbooks due to the expansion of the literate population.

On display are the playful best-selling book “Tofu Hyakuchin'' (1782), which collects 100 types of tofu dishes, “The Secret Box of Radish Cooking,'' which was published as a result of that hit, and “Manpo,'' which focuses on chicken and eggs. See the original recipe books that contributed to the spread of Japanese food culture, such as the “Hyakurinmono'' cookbooks with different ingredients, as well as food samples of dishes made using the recipes introduced in the books. is completed. There was a QR code for a modern version of the recipe next to the exhibit, so it might be fun to try it at home.

In the fourth chapter, “The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of Japanese Cuisine ,'' the eye-pleasing video installation focuses on the things that make up Japanese cuisine, such as the vivid skills of chefs, the sophisticated shapes of cooking utensils, and the aesthetic sense of our ancestors. I'll give it to you.

After the advent of civilization and enlightenment, with the introduction of Western and Chinese cuisine, the Japanese people began to refer to the food culture they had created as “washoku'' and became aware of this concept. Historically, Japan has successfully incorporated foreign ingredients to develop new cuisines, such as cooking methods that blend Japanese and Western styles, and Japanese-style Western and Chinese cuisine such as curry rice, Neapolitan spaghetti, pork cutlet, and ramen. This can be said to be a major feature of Japanese cuisine.

In Chapter 5, “My Japanese Cuisine,'' after understanding the process by which Japanese cuisine was created through the previous exhibits, the content is designed to make you reconsider what Japanese cuisine is, whose definition changes over time. I did.

Only Chapter 6, “The Future of Japanese Cuisine,'' is located in the second venue, and it talks about how Japanese cuisine will change in the future, points out the importance of local cuisine and traditional vegetables, and explains how Japanese cuisine continues to change in response to changes in society. Look to the future. In the area that introduces attempts to solve food problems and developing technology, we were able to see rare artificially hatched Japanese eel leptocephalus larvae.

Nowadays, it is possible to order ingredients from all over the world regardless of the season, and recipes from any country can be easily obtained through the internet. You can experience the same food and the same taste anytime and anywhere…With the expansion of homogeneous food-related services, the diversity and uniqueness of Japanese food culture may be fading away. However, there are certain ingredients and tastes that are rooted in the local area, and if we think about the wisdom and tenacity that went into changing Western food to fit within the Japanese style and context of rice and miso soup, we can't help but think about the future. I felt that there was hope for the development of

If you deepen your understanding of the diverse natural environment and people's activities of the Japanese archipelago through this exhibition, you may find that your daily Japanese food tastes even better.

The exhibition period is until February 25, 2024 (Sunday). Please come and visit us.

Overview of the special exhibition “Japanese Cuisine: Japanese Nature and People’s Wisdom”

*The content of the article is as of the interview date (October 27, 2023). Please check the exhibition official website for the latest information.

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Ueno Royal Museum

The exhibition “Monet: Scenes from a Series” is currently being held at the Uenonomori Art Museum, tracing the life of Impressionist master Claude Monet through more than 60 of his masterpieces, including the “Stack of Straws” and “Water Lilies” series.
The exhibition period is until January 28, 2024.

I attended the press preview held prior to the event, so I will provide a detailed report on the venue.

All of the works on display are Monet. A valuable exhibition realized with the cooperation of over 40 museums in Japan and overseas

Claude Monet (1840-1926) is a master of Impressionism.

Monet, who had an extraordinary sense of natural light and color, observed the same places and motifs in different seasons, weather, and times of day, and created continuous impressions and the instantaneous movement of light on multiple canvases. He is known as a painter who established an innovative method of expression called “series”, which was unprecedented until then .

This exhibition is being held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism in 1874 (the holding of the first Impressionism exhibition), and features a variety of Monet’s works such as “Stack of Straw” and “Water Lilies.” While focusing on a series of paintings with motifs, we will also be introducing works from before they were known as Impressionists, such as the large portrait painting Luncheon, which will be shown for the first time in Japan. Through more than 60 masterpieces collected from more than 40 museums in Japan and abroad, you can trace Monet’s life, which continued his constant dialogue with time and light.

Luncheon, an early masterpiece that marked a turning point towards Impressionism, is exhibited for the first time in Japan

The exhibition is organized into five chronological chapters.

Monet was born in Paris in 1840 and spent his childhood in a port town in Normandy. From around the age of 15, he had already distinguished himself locally as a master of caricatures, and at the age of 17, on the advice of the landscape painter Eugène Boudin, he began painting landscapes outdoors.

After training as a painter in Paris, in 1865 he won two landscape paintings at the Salon, a traditional public exhibition that was the only gateway to success and the best market for French artists at the time. was selected in his first attempt. Although he made a successful debut, in 1867, the salon’s judging standards became strict and conservative, and he was not well received. In 1870, his carefully prepared work Lunch (1868-69), over 230 cm in height, was rejected.

In Chapter 1, “Monet before Impressionism,” Monet’s “Lunch” will be exhibited for the first time in Japan, as well as landscape paintings and portraits depicting waterside scenes in the Netherlands, where he lived from 1871 after fleeing the Franco-Prussian War. .

“Lunch” depicts a casual scene at the dinner table when Camille, who later married, and her son Jean, who had been living separately for financial reasons, began living together. This is one of Monet’s early representative works that allows you to experience the rare “black” style, and one theory is that his bold, rough brushstrokes and bright colors are new expressions, and that he depicts everyday scenes with little narrative as if they were great paintings. It is believed that the fact that he painted it on a large screen displeased the judges, who emphasized neoclassicalism.

Taking this rejection as an opportunity, Monet distanced himself from the salon, which had a different artistic style, and turned to full-fledged Impressionism.

At the end of 1871, Monet moved to the picturesque Argenteuil, a town along the Seine River on the outskirts of Paris, where he devoted himself to painting alongside Manet and Renoir, who visited the area. Seeking a new venue for presentation, in 1874 he held the “First Impressionist Exhibition” with his comrades in Paris. Although it attracted attention, sales were poor and the company was in financial trouble. Furthermore, in 1879, he lost his wife Camille, who was his best model and understanding person, due to illness.

Chapter 2, “Monet, the Impressionist Painter,” exhibits a variety of Impressionist-like landscape paintings created by Monet, who was living in such a difficult environment in the 1870s and 1880s, while traveling to various locations around the Seine River Basin. Monet loved natural scenes, especially waterside views, rather than the rapidly modernizing cityscapes.

Around this time, Monet imitated the landscape painter Charles-François Daubigny and created a unique atelier boat with a cabin on top of the boat, as depicted in “Monet’s atelier boat” (1874). This vehicle, which can withstand the bad weather that comes with outdoor production, allows him to move around freely, capturing many of his works from a unique perspective on the water.

What particularly fascinated Monet was the view of the small village of Vetheuil, including its church, looking out over the Seine River, and he painted this theme repeatedly. Among them, The Church of Vetheuil (1880), housed in the Southampton City Art Gallery, is famous as a masterpiece of this period, and he applied bold strokes of paint to the canvas in an attempt to depict the moment as it is visible, reflecting the constantly swaying surface of the water. The highlight is that it’s posted quickly.

Another thing that caught my eye in the same chapter was the painting , which depicts the desolate winter landscape of Vetheuil in a somewhat abstract and rough brushstroke compared to other works from the same period. ( 1879).

Another work that takes the nature of Vétheuil as its theme is Spring at Vétheuil (1880), which was painted with a woman and child who appeared to be Alice, the wife of the Hochede family who lived with her. , is a richly expressive drawing with short, thick touches, thin and short lines, and rhythmic lines that run like waves, mixed with soft pink.

When I compared the two works, I got the impression that the latter was clearly more stable as a picture. One can only imagine that the warm arrival of spring and the presence of those close to him may have gradually soothed Monet’s deep sadness over the loss of his wife Camille.

Towards the idea of “series”. A group of loosely connected works with the same theme

Monet, who traveled extensively throughout Europe thanks to the development of the railway network in the late 19th century, preferred natural scenery such as deserted beaches rather than crowded resort areas, and spent several months in one place intensively painting. Or I worked on it while revisiting it on a yearly basis.

Chapter 3, “Concentration on a Theme,” introduces works that capture the diverse expressions of a single landscape, such as the beaches of Pourville in Normandy and the strange rocks of Etretat, which fascinated Monet.

Of particular interest are four works that deal with the coast of Pourville. The two works , The Cliffs of Pourville, created in 1882, and 15 years later, The Cliffs of Pourville, Morning and The Ripples of the Sea of Pourville, created in 1897, both depict cliffs that can be seen across the coast. The sandy beach, sea, and sky are depicted in similar compositions.

However, while the 1882 work clearly emphasizes the prominent cliffs and reefs as motifs, the 1897 work has weaker motifs, and is instead more conscious of the changing weather, sea conditions, and overall atmosphere. I feel like it’s aimed at me.

These four works vividly conveyed the changes in Monet’s style and his point of view, which can only be seen because the works were painted in the same location over a period of more than 10 years.

Other works such as La Manneporte (Etretat) (1883) and La Manneporte in Etretat (1886) are works with a certain order that give a sense of loose connection, variations on the same theme. It can be expressed as something like. Through this process, Monet came up with the idea of creating a series of paintings about a single subject.

From Chapter 4, “Monet, the Painter of Series”, we will finally see the representative works of “Series,” which is the main focus of this exhibition.

In 1883, at the age of 42, Monet moved to Giverny on the Seine River as his final home. Monet initially painted the stacks of straw, which were a familiar sight in autumn in this area, as a motif, but around 1890 he arranged multiple canvases side by side to create paintings that were created by the effects of light depending on the weather and time. Simultaneously creating depictions that change from moment to moment. In 1891, he held a solo exhibition at the Galerie Durand-Ruel in Paris, displaying them as a series, which was a dramatic success, and established him as one of France’s leading painters both at home and abroad.

This Stack of Straws is thought to be the first series in which Monet seriously practiced the method of systematic serial painting.

The Stack of Straw, Effect of Snow (1891) exhibited in this exhibition is one of 15 works exhibited at Galerie Durand-Ruel in 1891. The stack of straw is placed large in front of the screen, creating a beautiful dramatic contrast between the stack of straw, which is almost in shadow, and the bright snow.

Since then, he has created a series of works based on a number of motifs, and from 1899 he spent several years painting Waterloo Bridge and Charing Cross Bridge in London.

“Waterloo Bridge” has 41 works, the most of any series in London, and three of them, depicting cloudy weather, dusk, and sunset, will be exhibited at the venue.

The screen seems to be filled with a humid atmosphere, and the details of the bridge, which was the motif, are omitted in each painting, and the soft silhouette appears as if it is floating in the mist of the River Thames. The highlight is the delicate harmony of colors created by the prism of light, and just like a woodblock print that changes its printing color, the uniqueness of the color expressions stands out because the composition is the same.

By repeatedly viewing a single subject in a variety of visual effects of color and light, the viewer is immersed in the work and is able to trace the “time” that Monet himself would have experienced, which cannot exist on screen. Let them experience it. I believe that creating this immersive experience was also the aim of Monet’s “series”.

It is not just a simple exploration of light and color, but also how “sequential works” function together and what effect they produce on the viewer, creating new art that can only be achieved through “sequential works.” I felt Monet’s firm will to do so.

The water lily that made Monet the “father of abstract painting”

Monet’s home in Giverny was the greatest source of inspiration, filled with his ideals. I spent many years working on the “Flower Garden,” where seasonal flowers such as wisteria and peonies bloom, and the “Water Garden,” which is said to be Monet’s masterpiece and was inspired by Japanese gardens, with the aim of making them into painting subjects. Maintenance. The water lilies that the gardener cultivated in the pond of this “water garden” became the motif of one of his greatest series of works in his later years. Supported by his second wife Alice and his family, Monet continued to create art until his death at the age of 86, despite suffering from visual impairment.

The fifth and final chapter, “Water Lilies and the Garden at Giverny,” introduces scenes from Giverny and various garden scenes that Monet loved, including water lilies.

Monet began intensively painting water lilies in the summer of 1897, four years after he started constructing the pond, and Water Lilies (circa 1897-98) are among the eight works he produced at the beginning of his career. One of them. A close-up composition of water lily flowers and leaves, drawn close to the surface of a pond, with a clear form. What caught my attention was how the bold brush strokes of the flowers appeared as a glossy three-dimensional effect from a distance.

At this point, you can see that there are no reflections of the trees or sky around the pond on the dark surface of the water, and Monet’s gaze is focused only on the water lilies. As the years pass, our gaze focuses on the water surface. As his eyesight deteriorated, he lost depth and his brush strokes became coarser, and the shapes, colors, and light melted together on the surface of the water, which reflected his surroundings like a mirror, transforming him into something like an abstract painting.

These later works stimulated abstract artists in the mid-20th century, and Monet’s art received new attention and re-evaluation.

This is a valuable exhibition where each piece is a representative oil painting by Monet, “100% Monet”, without any drawings or underpaintings. This book is recommended for beginners of Monet, as it shows the changes in Monet’s style from before Impressionism to his later years. Please come and visit us.

Overview of “Monet Scenes from a Series”

※※The content of the article is as of the date of coverage (2023/10/19). Please check the official website for the latest information.

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Tokyo National Museum

“Yamato-e” was established in the early Heian period and has been handed down through various changes.

The special exhibition “Yamato-e – The beauty of dynasties passed down through generations” to be held at the Tokyo National Museum traces the lineage of Yamato-e, which has always been innovative.

This article reports on the press preview held the day before the event.

What is Yamato-e?

The special exhibition “Yamato-e – The beauty of the dynasty passed down through generations” focuses on “Yamato-e,” which have been painted continuously since the Heian period.
However, what is interesting is that the concept of “Yamato-e” has changed greatly over time.

From the Heian period to the Kamakura period, works depicting Japanese landscapes and people were called “Yamato-e,” in contrast to “Kara-e,” which depicted Chinese themes, but after that, new Chinese paintings such as ink painting While paintings based on a style were called “Chinese paintings,” works based on the traditional style of previous generations were called “Yamato-e.”
In other words, “Yamato-e” has always existed as a counter-concept to paintings of foreign origin.

This exhibition introduces a carefully selected selection of “Yamato-e” paintings, which inherited the essence of dynastic beauty while constantly changing their form, especially from the Heian period to the Muromachi period.

Full of “actual textbooks” on Japanese art!

This exhibition consists of 6 chapters.

Prologue: Tradition and Innovation—Changes in Yamato-e painting—
Chapter 1: The establishment of Yamato-e—Heian period—
Chapter 2 New aspects of Yamato-e—Kamakura period—
Chapter 3: Maturation of Yamato-e—Nanbokucho and Muromachi periods—
Chapter 4 Genealogy of Imperial Court Paintings
Final chapter Yamato-e and the four seasons—The beauty of the dynasty inherited from generation to generation—

Through the works, you can experience the changes in Yamato-e, which has developed independently through repeated negotiations with the ideas and techniques of foreign art such as Kara-e and Chinese-style paintings, as well as the characteristics of each era.

This is the royal road to Japanese art! It is truly a sight to see textbook-like works, works that are familiar from art collections, etc. all coming together in one place.
More than 70% of the approximately 245 items in total are national treasures and important cultural properties, and the exhibition exhibits not only paintings but also many works from the same period that supported the aesthetic sense of Yamato-e, such as calligraphy and craft works.

Among them, one of the works that is considered to be “highly recommended for this exhibition” is the Important Cultural Property “Hamamatsu Folding Screen” (owned by the Tokyo National Museum), which is renowned as one of the finest Yamato paintings from the Muromachi period.

This is a masterpiece that gives a very lively impression, with many flowers, trees, plants, and birds superimposed on a dazzling beach landscape, representing the changing seasons from right to left. It is said to be the “ultimate Yamato-e” that brings together various elements of ancient and medieval Yamato-e.

If you actually look at it up close, the entire painting appears to be emitting a dull glow, but this is apparently due to a technique unique to Yamato-e from the Muromachi period, in which mica (a layered silicate mineral) is swept over the base. is. It shines like the twilight of a moonlit night, unlike the later Azuchi-Momoyama period, which emphasized gold. Somehow, you can feel a part of the Japanese’s profound sense of beauty.

The best masterpieces in the history of Japanese emaki, the “Four Great Emaki” are gathered together.

Furthermore, among the many picture scrolls, the “Four Great Picture Scrolls”, which were produced at the end of the Heian period, are famous as the greatest masterpieces.
This exhibition will feature The Tale of Genji Emaki, the oldest and greatest dynastic tale emaki in existence, as well as Shigisan Engi Emaki, Ban Dainagon Emaki , and the famous Choju-giga (all national treasures). We will all meet.

This is one of the four great picture scrolls, a national treasure called Choju-giga (Kyoto, Kozanji temple collection). I have a strong memory of the extremely crowded Choju-Giga Exhibition held at the Tokyo National Museum in 2015, and this work has been loved by many people for its humorous and cute nature.
The changing of the four seasons, monthly events, flowers, birds, landscapes, and various stories…Yamato-e have depicted all kinds of themes, but the dynamic animals depicted in this Choju-giga are one of them. Among them, it stands out.

This exhibition has four exhibition periods (① October 11th (Wednesday) – October 22nd (Sunday) ➁ October 24th (Tuesday) – November 5th (Sunday) ③ November 7th (Tuesday) – 19th (Sunday) ④ November 21st (Tuesday) – The exhibition will be changed according to December 3rd (Sunday), but the four major picture scrolls will be gathered together for the first time in 30 years from October 11th to 22nd.
In addition to this period, the three major decorative sutras (Kunōji sutra, Heikeno sutra, Jikoji sutra) and the three statues of Jingoji temple, which are known as masterpieces of Yamato-e portraits (Den Yoritomo statue, Den Taira Shigemori statue, and Den Fujiwara no Kōyō statue) There are many notable works, including ancient and medieval masterpieces such as (all national treasures) appearing one after another.

Takahiro Tsuchiya, head of the Painting and Sculpture Department at the Tokyo National Museum’s Curatorial Research Department, who was in charge of this exhibition, said, “This is an exhibition with so many works that an exhibition could be completed even if there were less than half the number of works. I think you’ll be able to see more works as the exhibits change.I hope you’ll visit the venue again and again.”
was said to the audience.

The world of “Yamato-e” has been passed down and changed over the course of more than a thousand years.
Please feel free to visit the venue and take a look.

*For the exhibition period of each work, please see the “Exhibition Catalog” on the official website .

Event overview

*The contents of the article are as of the time of interview. Please check the official exhibition website for details as the information may differ from the latest information. Additionally, the works featured in this article may have already been exhibited.

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Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

The “Eternal City of Rome” exhibition, which introduces the history of Rome’s beauty from the founding of the country to modern times, has opened at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, focusing on the collection of the Capitoline Museums in the center of Rome. The exhibition period is from Saturday, September 16, 2023 to Sunday, December 10, 2023.

I visited the venue and will report on the exhibition.

Capitoline Museums celebrates the history of Rome’s glory and beauty

Capitoline Hill has long been the religious, political, and cultural center of the Romans, with temples dedicated to the supreme god Jupiter and other gods rising there in ancient times, and today the Capitoline Hill is where Rome’s City Hall is located. The Capitoline Museums, built on a hill there, are among the oldest museums in the world.

In 1471, Pope Sixtus IV during the Renaissance donated four ancient sculptures to the citizens of Rome, with the purpose of inspiring their self-respect and demonstrating that he was the legitimate heir of ancient Rome, on the Capitoline Hill. The museum was established as a result of the establishment of the museum. It opened to the public in 1734 and has amassed a rich collection of ancient relics excavated in Rome, sculptures originating from the Vatican, and works of art owned by prominent Roman families.

This exhibition focuses on items from the collection of the Capitoline Museums, and covers everything from the founding myths of the nation, to the glory of the ancient Roman era, to the Renaissance and Baroque, when art reached its peak, and from the 17th century onward, when it became a place of aspiration for artists. This exhibition introduces the magnificent history and art of Rome, known as the “Eternal City,” through approximately 70 sculptures, paintings, and prints.

In addition to the five chronological chapters, there is also a special exhibit introducing the exchange between the museum and Japan, marking the 150th anniversary of the Iwakura Mission’s visit to the museum.

The first chapter, “The Creation of the Myth of the Founding of Rome,” unravels the folklore and myths of ancient Rome, which is said to have been founded in 753 BC.The starting point is the famous work “The Capitoline She-Wolf (Reproduction),” which can be said to be the symbol of Rome. It was placed there.

The original work is one of the four ancient sculptures that started the Capitoline Museums. It is said to have been created in the 5th century BC. (The exhibited work is a later reproduction owned by the City Hall of Rome)

This story is based on the story of the she-wolf who raised Romulus, the first king of Rome, who was born to Mars, the god of war, and the priestess Rhea Sylvia, and his younger brother Remus, which is an episode of the epic poem “Aeneid” by the poet Virgil, which is based on the myth of the founding of Rome. .

Originally it only had a female wolf, but during the Renaissance, a statue of twins drinking milk was added. The she-wolf’s wide-open eyes and fur are expressed in a stylistic yet delicate manner.

The statue of a she-wolf nursing twins is enshrined in the city of Rome, and as it continues to move forward with the history of the empire as the embodiment of the founding myth, it has become public art such as public monuments and coins, poetic jewelry, and festival art. It has influenced the iconographic expression of various media. “The Capitoline She-Wolf” is the surviving work that can be considered an icon, except for the twin statues added in later generations.

Indicating its enormous influence as a symbol, there are many other works in Chapter 1 that depict the she-wolf, such as the Silver Drachma and the Mirror of Bolsena (4th century BC). .

During the imperial period from 27 BC onwards, portraits developed along with the prosperity of the empire. The portraits of Roman emperors, with their dignified expressions and realism, not only functioned as a means of propaganda, but also influenced the private portraits of ordinary citizens, and are said to have popularized various fashionable outfits, poses, and hairstyles. Masu.

Chapter 2, “The Glory of the Ancient Roman Empire ,” traces the glorious era through the “faces of the times,” including the head carvings of Julius Caesar and Augustus, who laid the foundations of the ancient Roman Empire. It communicates social and political changes.

Here, fragments of the two Colossi of Constantine owned by the Capitoline Museums were displayed in elaborate full-size reproductions, making it very impressive. The Colossus of Constantine is another ancient sculpture donated by Pope Sixtus IV to the citizens of Rome.

Constantine (r. 306-337) was one of the most important emperors of the Roman Empire. He is known as the first Roman emperor to reunite the divided empire, recognize Christianity as the state religion, and become a believer himself.

The head alone is approximately 1.8 meters tall. Its scale is reminiscent of its former glory. It is believed that the sunken cheeks, stern tear bags under the eyes, and wrinkles around the mouth are a depiction of the emperor in his later years. Even though she has a dignified expression, the eyes that look slightly upwards as if looking into the distance are impressive. It has a detached atmosphere that seems to reflect the high ideals that people at the time had for the emperor.

In addition to the head, the left foot, left hand, and the index finger of the left hand, which was recently discovered at the Louvre Museum, were also exhibited, along with a new reproduction made specifically for this exhibition.

Don’t miss out on the hidden gem “Venus of the Capitoline”!

Additionally, Venus of the Capitoline, displayed in Chapter 2, is the most notable work of this exhibition.

This 2nd century work is based on a statue of Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love, identified with Venus) created in the 4th century BC by the great ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.

She takes the typical shy pose of Venus statues, and the expression of her graceful body curves and plump skin texture is extremely beautiful and attractive. If you look closely, you can see that her hair is tied into a bow at the top of her head, tied into a chignon at the nape of her neck, and then her hair is let down in two, which is a bit of an interesting hairstyle.

This work is known as a masterpiece of ancient Venus statues, along with Venus de Milo (Louvre Museum) and Venus de Medici (Uffizi Gallery). In fact, this is the third time it has been taken outside the Capitoline Museums since it was acquired in 1752, including the time when it was temporarily confiscated by the French army led by Napoleon, so it can truly be said to be a treasure that should never be left out. .

This is a must-see work that I don’t know if I will have the chance to see again in Japan in the future.

For the exhibition, we have prepared a special space inspired by the octagonal exhibition room called “Venus Room” at the Capitoline Museums, where the work is usually displayed. Similarly, the floor was created in the pattern of Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Renaissance master Michelangelo, where the museum is located.

For more information about Michelangelo’s urban planning, which began in 1537, and the development of the iconic museum complex with a plaza and buildings that embody the splendor of the city of Rome, see Chapter 3, “From the Birth of Museums to Michelangelo’s Piazza” The concept is introduced in detail through paintings and prints.

In Chapter 4, “Picture Gallery Collection,” Pope Benedict Displaying 13 works from the art gallery’s collection.

The collection includes masterpieces by painters who were active from the 16th to the 18th century, ranging from Italian Baroque master Pietro da Cortona to works by unknown authors. It tells us about the themes and expressions that were mainstream in Italy at the time, as well as the paintings that captured the interest of art patrons.

Since the 17th century, the city of Rome, a treasure trove of ancient ruins and ecclesiastical architecture, has become a source of artistic inspiration for artists in Italy and abroad, including through the Grand Tour.

Chapter 5, “A yearning for Rome, the capital of art – the interplay between fantasy and reality”, features a monument commemorating Emperor Trajan’s victory in the Dacian War, which is said to have particularly fascinated artists and European monarchs. Prints and models of the 30-meter ancient monument “Trajan’s Column” are on display. We also feature works created using ancient Roman art as a source of inspiration.

Meissen’s unglazed pottery “Amor and Psyche” is a small work, about 30 cm in length, but the intertwined bodies, especially the arrangement of the arms reminiscent of a circle, gently holding each other’s heads, seem to symbolize eternal love. , I was fascinated by its luscious curves for a while.

The work is a reproduction of the famous 2nd century marble sculpture “Amor and Psyche” housed in the Capitoline Museums. In the 18th century, as the number of ancient art enthusiasts increased, a new industry for producing miniature versions of famous ancient sculptures and a market for buying and selling them grew, and it is said that many copies of these works were on the market.

On the last floor, there is a corner with a special exhibition, “The Capitoline Museums and Japan.”

Exactly 150 years ago, in 1873, the Iwakura Mission sent by the Meiji government to Europe and America visited the Capitoline Museums. Their experiences visiting museums in Europe and the United States influenced the Meiji government’s museum policy and art education.

The exhibition will feature illustrations from the visit report “Records of the Circulation of the United States and Europe”, which was created based on picture postcards that the members of the mission likely obtained locally, as well as illustrations of the feelings Japanese people had towards Europe in the early 19th century. We are introducing imaginary drawings that convey an exotic image, such as the Aranda French Kano Garan Drawing .

Furthermore, when Kogakuryo Bijutsu Gakko (later Kobu Bijutsu Gakko) was established as Japan’s first art education institution in 1876, Italian teachers invited to teach Western art used famous sculptures as teaching materials. I brought in plaster statues to use as models, including one from the Capitoline Museums.

As evidence of its history, students are thought to have copied the Head of Dionysus, which was created in the 2nd century and is in the Capitoline Museums, and a plaster statue that was based on the same work and was brought to Japan. “Half of the body of European lady Arianne” are displayed side by side. It symbolizes the timeless connection between the Capitoline and Japan.

The Eternal City of Rome Exhibition lets you immerse yourself in the history of the magnificent beauty of Rome, a city that has captivated artists from all over the world. Please come and visit us.

Overview of “Eternal City Rome Exhibition”

*The contents of the article are as of the time of reporting. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Article provided by: Kokosil Ueno

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Tokyo National Museum

The “Yokoo Tadanori Kanzan Hyakutoku” exhibition is being held at the Tokyo National Museum Hyokeikan in Ueno, Tokyo from September 12, 2023. (Duration is until December 3rd)

We are exhibiting for the first time 102 new works from the “Kanzan Shutoku” series, in which contemporary artist Tadanori Yokoo reconstructs the traditional painting theme of the wind-crazed monk in China with his own interpretation.

*About the images of the works… Unless otherwise specified, all works are by Tadanori Yokoo and are in the artist’s collection.

Kanzan Jitoku, who became a target of admiration for his escapist behavior.

Kanzan and Jitoku are two legendary poet-monks who are said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty in China.

Despite being a highly educated man of literature, he is known to be a free and eccentric being, living in a cave, filling his stomach with leftover food, and making outrageous statements. In Chinese Zen Buddhism, their secular appearance and behavior were hailed as a state of enlightenment, and Kanzan came to be considered sacred as the incarnation of Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Chitoku as the incarnation of Fugen Bodhisattva.
In China and Japan since the Kamakura period, Kanzan Joutoku has been depicted as a traditional painting theme by many Zen monks and literary figures, and in modern times it has been featured with admiration in the novels of Mori Ogai and Natsume Soseki.

It was in 2019 that Tadanori Yokoo (1936-), one of Japan’s leading contemporary artists, first exhibited a work based on the theme of Kanzan Jhotoku. It was inspired by the masterpiece “Kanzan Jitokuzu” by Soga Shohaku, a fantastical painter of the Edo period.

Since then, he has been intensively creating the “Kanzan Joutoku” series, changing its shapes in a variety of ways. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he avoided contact with the outside world and devoted himself to creative activities in his atelier, isolated from the world, much like a Kanzan-Jitoku retreat.

The 102 works in the “Kanzan Jhotoku” series on display are all new, previously unpublished works created specifically for this exhibition.

The production period is approximately one year starting from September 2021. As Yokoo himself said at the press conference for this exhibition, “I decided to quit being an artist and become an athlete.” With a powerful and challenging spirit that belies his age, he sometimes works three times a day. It was created at an astonishing speed, sometimes even drawing out the dots.

Beyond time and space, from image to image

Kanzan Joutoku is said to be a poet monk, and the traditional representation is that Kanzan is depicted holding a scroll with Chinese poems written on it, and Joutoku is shown holding a broom for sweeping the temple garden, but Mr. Yokoo used his own interpretation to use the scroll as toilet paper and the broom. It is humorous with modern updates such as having the user switch to a vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, the two are sitting on a toilet bowl reminiscent of Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain, perhaps an association with toilet paper.

As I walked around the venue, I noticed that the titles of each work were unified only with the date of production, and there were no explanatory captions.

Masato Matsushima, head of the Research Division at the Tokyo National Museum’s Curatorial Research Department, says that these exhibitions reflect Yokoo’s wishes.

“Mr. Yokoo himself said that he had no intention of putting a message or trying to convey something in each of his works. I have placed on canvas what has arisen from my body.I would like people to view it while freely imagining and interpreting it.”

In many cases, a particular motif forms a series of phases, such as “red cloth.”

“2022-03-24” depicts Kanzan Chitoku and a woman relaxing on a red mattress, which is clearly a parody of 19th century French painter Edouard Manet’s famous painting “Luncheon on the Grass.” There is a similar composition entitled “2022-05-01”, which looks exactly like “Noryo Screen” by the Edo period painter Morikage Kusumi, which is a national treasure in the museum’s collection.

In 2022-05-05, which was created a few days later, he is happily flying through the sky on a red magic carpet like in the Arabian Nights. And when I looked at 《2022-05-28》, it was like the world of Harry Potter. Perhaps each of them wanted to fly on their own, so they switched from the red carpet to the broom.

In this way, Mr. Yokoo’s Kanzan Chitoku statues are associated with images one after another, transforming like a hundred faces.

He appears to be dressed up as Arsène Lupin or Don Quixote, but his body also transforms into a gigantic mountain-like body that looks like an ink landscape painting, or an inorganic, geometric form reminiscent of an AI or robot. Jitoku Kanzan does whatever he wants, such as dressing up as a woman, merging into one, and blending into the scenery so much that you can no longer tell where he is.

In addition, as in the traditional painting theme “Four Sleeping Pictures”, he is not only accompanied by Jitoroku Kanzan, but also his two masters, Bukan Zenji and Tora, as well as Einstein, Edgar Allan Poe, Shohei Otani shows his face. There are also glimpses of works that reflect social conditions such as the Tokyo Olympics and the Soccer World Cup…

There was a story of Kanzan Jitoku that was free to move around, regardless of time, place, size, reality or fiction.

The diversity of these works, as if the artist’s multifaceted nature was brought out in the form of Jitoku Kanzan, is due to what Yokoo himself describes as his “physical brain.”

This work was born as a result of letting my body move freely, without being bound by style or commitment. The artist’s physical manifestations from time to time, such as the change in menstruation between yesterday and today, or the things that came into view that day, felt somewhat like a diary.

Opening up new frontiers of freedom with the “sluggish body” acquired from physical inconvenience

Many of his drawings are drawn with a soft and gentle touch, and Yokoo calls this style of drawing “oburotai.”

Oborotai originally refers to a Japanese painting technique established during the Meiji period, but for Mr. Yokoo, Oborotai means that his vision and even the inside of his head are unclear due to the effects of hearing loss that he developed in 2015. Even the boundaries between things and the distinction between dreams and reality have become blurred. Tendonitis made it difficult to draw clear, strong lines. It was acquired through these physical changes.

The outlines that have become vague through repeated brushstrokes sometimes neutralize the walls of time and space, sometimes going beyond the artist’s intentions and leaving the constraints of the past and technology, giving an impression of openness that melts the heart of the viewer. I’ll give it to you.

Most of the works are painted on large canvases of size F100 or F150, making them impressive, and since there are no covers such as acrylic cases, it is possible to appreciate the brushstrokes and layering of colors up close.
The screen was bright, and many warm primary colors such as red and yellow were used, which gave me a sense of peace and energy, as if some weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

It is said that it is rare in the history of the museum to hold an exhibition by a living artist. Why not experience the free world of Tadanori Yokoo, who broke new ground in his 80s at this exhibition, which has a special place in the museum?

In addition, as a related project to this exhibition, the special room 1 of the main building of the Tokyo National Museum will feature a special feature titled “The Tokyo National Museum’s Cold Mountains: A Longing for the Legendary Wind-Crazy Monk” from September 12, 2023 (Tuesday) to November 5, 2023. Ongoing until Sunday .

*Can be viewed with a ticket to this exhibition. Please check the official website for details as there are exhibition changes between the first and second periods.

Including the National Treasure Indara’s “Kanzan Joutoku-zu (Fragmented Zen Machine Drawing)”, the museum’s collection of classic “Kanzan Joutoku-zu” is collected and introduced in one place. It might be interesting to follow the evolution of Kanzan Jhotoku-zu and compare it with Yokoo’s latest works.

“Tadanori Yokoo Kanzan Hyakutoku” Exhibition

*The content of the article is as of the date of coverage. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Article provided by: Kokosil Ueno

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Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

The first retrospective exhibition of Tamana Araki, a New York-based artist who continues to engage in a wide range of expressive activities from prints to installations, will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno, Tokyo. It is being held at The exhibition period is until October 9, 2023.

Tamana Araki (1970-) studied abroad in Mexico after graduating from Musashino Art University Junior College in 1991, and was fascinated by the unique culture where “brightness and darkness'' and “life and death'' coexist. Masu. Since then, he has repeatedly stayed in Mexico, creating works with a unique world view through a variety of expressions, including copperplate prints, which he learned techniques for locally, three-dimensional works, installations, and animations.

In 2012, she moved her base of activities to New York and took a new step by consciously living as an immigrant.In recent years, she has been interested in themes such as “crossing borders,'' “diversity,'' and “inclusion .''

This exhibition is Araki's first retrospective exhibition. Approximately 120 pieces of variety, from early works to new works, from palm-sized three-dimensional works to large-scale installations that take up an entire floor, “There of Memories'' (2023/to be shown for the first time at this exhibition), inspired by “ Ueno's memories.'' A rich collection of works is being developed.

The exhibition consists of four chapters. The charm of Araki's work is the motifs and expressions that evoke the lives and stories of people, giving a sense of intimacy and nostalgia, and at the same time creating a boundary between the everyday and the extraordinary that makes your heart feel transported somewhere. The viewer is invited on a mysterious journey through the world.

Chapter 1, "The 'Beginning, Beginning!' of Travel," introduces relatively early works, including those with travel motifs and those inspired by the experience of staying in Mexico. I am introducing this as a starting point.

At the entrance, there is a piece called Untitled (1995) that is made up of a music box, and viewers can turn the screw themselves. Regarding this work, Araki commented in a gallery talk, “While one song is playing, I created it with the idea of going on an imaginary journey while listening to it.'' The many empty picture frames foreshadow wonderful encounters on the journey that are about to begin.

The exhibition begins like a curtain opening in “Beginning, Beginning'' (2003), and a story begins. “Day'' and “Night'' (1999) were made with the idea that “It would be great if there was a portable work that could be placed next to the bed in the room I stayed in while traveling, or on a small table by the train window.'' A unique foldable three-dimensional work created by. All are made using the copperplate engraving technique.

La calavera amarilla (Yellow Skeleton) (2005), which uses skeletons as a motif, and Una marcha de los esqueletos (March of the Skeletons) (2004), which use colorful decorations and illuminations to welcome the dead cheerfully, You can feel the influence of Mexico's unique view of life and death, as exemplified by the “Sun''.

“Caos poetico” (2005) is a fantastical scene sprinkled with warm light reminiscent of a lantern. This design was inspired by the strong lifestyle of poor people in Mexico, who used to draw electric wires from telephone poles without permission and use them to light their houses and food stalls, and how the streets decorated with these lights were so beautiful that they looked like a starry sky. This is an installation that was inspired by the concept.

Numerous power cords hang from the ceiling, and at the end of them are attached small boxes that look like houses. Not only the color of the light but also the pattern of each small box is different, and various items are used, such as a box of tea that Araki drank in Mexico, a bus ticket, and a flyer for Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling).

The image of the chaotic state comes from the “strength of living in chaos'' that Araki felt from the houses painted with colorful paint and the people of Mexico City living there. Is not it.

Please note that this work is a participatory work. Following the guidance of the exhibition facilitators (volunteers who support the viewing, nicknamed Kee-jin), viewers were able to connect small boxes to any socket of their choice and make them part of the cityscape.

In Chapter 2, “Darkness Lurking in Soft Light,” two installations are arranged symmetrically to express light and darkness, respectively.

In Uchi (1999), which Araki created with the image of the housing complex where he lived as a child, about 100 boxes made of white plywood were set up against a white wall to resemble the houses in the housing complex. thing.

Each box is randomly numbered, and viewers receive a key from the facilitator and open the door of the box that matches the number. Then, light spilled out from inside, and we began to see the warm lives of each family depicted in the prints, which was hard to imagine from the uniform exterior.

On the other side of the wall of “Home'', “Invisible'' (2011) has a strong presence as a black and ominous object spreads out from above, as if filling out the everyday world of small happiness in the same work. .

This work was created after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and visually captures the feelings of anxiety and disgust felt at the time due to the nuclear power plant accident, in which invisible dangerous substances called radioactive materials might come flying. What I tried to make. The black objects are said to have been made by dyeing black orchid fibers purchased in large quantities in Mexico, rolling them into dumplings, and pasting them together.

Chapter 3, “The world of stories, butterflies that cross borders,'' fully introduces Araki's “world of stories,'' which is cute yet somehow unsettling, and full of the poetic nature of Araki.

Most of the people Araki draws are just silhouettes, and their expressions cannot be seen. He is alone in the vast world, sometimes facing something frightening. Do you see loneliness, freedom, or a longing for something? As my own self mysteriously overlapped with my own, my memories were shaken, and before I knew it, my mind seemed to be absorbed into the world of the work.

NeNe Sol – The Youngest Sun – is a picture book based on the Mayan myth of the creation of the sun that is still passed down in the Chiabas region of Mexico, and was co-produced by Mr. Araki and Leñateros Kobo, a printmaking studio whose members are mainly indigenous Mayan people. thing. A prototype version and the original illustrations are on display at the venue. The unique binding, which looks like a stone carving, was created by a Mexican sculptor.

In 2022, Araki will hold a workshop called “I Hear Folk Tales'' at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum with children who have roots in various countries. The children experienced making tents and picture books in the shape of butterflies using paper pulp, and they also introduced folk tales from the countries where they have roots. The tent that was actually made at that time is on display at the venue.

Mr. Araki is interested in the Monarch butterfly that he encountered in Mexico, which migrates from country to country like a migratory bird to overwinter. This work was apparently inspired by the image of a Monarch butterfly resting its wings on the ground.

This work is based on Araki, who lived in the United States as an immigrant during the Trump administration, and his thoughts on refugees who are blocked by walls and unable to cross borders, and the monarch butterfly, which can move freely around the world regardless of borders. It is superimposed on.

Additionally, since tents are meant for people to temporarily stay or take shelter, Araki revealed that this work has the meaning of “a place where people can hide with peace of mind.''

In Chapter 4, “An Adventure Around the Bottom of Ueno,'' we use the entire space of the exhibition room on the third basement floor, which can be called “there'' ( the bottom) of the museum, with a ceiling height of 10 meters, to create ideas for “Memories of Ueno.'' The large-scale installation I obtained , “Beyond Memories'' (2023), will be the last part of this exhibition's journey.

During my research, I learned that it became the stage for many historical events, such as the birth of Japan's first parks, museums, and zoos, the Great Kanto Earthquake, the Great Tokyo Air Raid, and the emergence of the black market after the war, and attracted people from various countries and regions. Mr. Araki was attracted to the chaos of Ueno, a place he had adopted.

Around the huge object resembling a black birdcage in the center, fragmentary images of Ueno's past and present are shown, including photographs of Ueno taken by Araki himself and ukiyo-e prints depicting Ueno. , a pair of mirrors symbolizing “eyes'' suspended from the ceiling play the role of bringing to light the image of Ueno that was buried “down there'' (at the bottom).

The object is “a cage-like, hollow basket that swallows up and spits out the past, the future, the beautiful, and the trivial.''The upper part of the object looks like it's being grasped by a large hand. Some of the columns are curved, as if they were forced out from within or pried open from the outside.

Regarding this shape, Araki says, “Bird cages and cages seem to protect the birds, but they also confine them so that they can't fly away freely, and the shape emerges from these dual aspects.'' ” he explained.

Regarding this exhibition, Mr. Araki says, “I would like many children and young people to see it.I hope that they can go underground and have a somewhat mysterious experience, and enjoy it as if they were traveling.'' The journey from the ground to "there" in Ueno also aroused my longing for another journey.

An exhibition that brings to mind the common themes that modern society has across countries and regions, such as crossing borders, diversity, and inclusion, which Araki is interested in. ' will be held until October 9, 2023.

Ueno's "Beginning, Beginning" Tamana Araki Exhibition

*The contents of the article are as of the time of reporting. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Article provided by: Kokosil Ueno

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Tokyo National Museum

A special exhibition "Ancient Mexico – Maya, Aztec, Teotihuacan", which introduces the treasures of three civilizations representing ancient Mexico, will be held from Friday, June 16, 2023 to Sunday, September 3, 2023 at the Tokyo National Museum. Currently being held at the museum (Ueno, Tokyo).

This exhibition will focus on the three civilizations representing Mesoamerica ( the Maya, Aztec, and Teotihuacan civilizations that shared cultural elements and prospered in parts of Mexico and Central America until the Spanish invasion in the 16th century). Focused.

About 140 valuable excavated items such as inscriptions and reliefs and archaeological relics carefully selected from major museums in Mexico are introduced along with the results of recent excavations. We will explore the depth and charm of the ancient Mexican civilization, such as the unique world view and the beauty of molding created from the diverse natural environment.

The exhibition consists of four chapters : "An Invitation to Ancient Mexico", "Teotihuacan: City of the Gods", "Maya: The Rise and Fall of City-States", and "Aztec: The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan".

Chapter 1 "Invitation to Ancient Mexico"

Chapter 1, "An Invitation to Ancient Mexico," is a cross-sectional exhibition of works based on common themes of the three civilizations, such as "corn," "celestial bodies and calendars," "ball games," and "human sacrifices," as well as images of the ruins of each civilization. It is an introductory part that conveys the world view of the whole ancient Mexico through.

Here, the roots of Mesoamerica, which arose in the Gulf of Mexico around 1500 B.C., were the Olmec civilization, which inherited various elements to later Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the concept of sovereignty and many gods linked to rituals. The work "Olmec style stone figurine" that shows the existence of

Chapter 2 "Teotihuacan City of the Gods"

Chapter 2, "Teotihuacan: City of the Gods," deals with the Teotihuacan civilization, which flourished from 100 B.C. to 550 A.D.

Based on the cosmic view of the world that people believed in at the time, Teotihuacan is a state-led city centered on the "boulevard of the dead" and incorporating pyramids, ritual halls, palace-type buildings, and strict housing complexes. It was a planned city and a large religious city . Recent research has revealed that up to 100,000 people lived there, but the language and characters used have not been clarified, and it is still a civilization with many mysteries.

Here, we introduce the three pyramids representing Teotihuacan , the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Pyramid of the Feathered Snake, as well as works excavated from their surroundings.

The "Death Disk Stone Sculpture" exposed in the center of the exhibition room was excavated from the plaza in front of the Pyramid of the Sun, the largest of the pyramids in Teotihuacan, during an excavation in 1964.
It is a stone sculpture with a diameter of more than 1m, and the motif that spreads radially like a halo and the tongue protruding from the mouth of the skull are impressive. In Mesoamerica, sunset is death and sunrise is rebirth.

The exhibits that had a particularly strong presence were the Stone Sculpture of the Feathered Serpent God and the Stone Sculpture of the Sipaktri Headdress .
This is part of the large stone carving that covered the four walls of the Feathered Snake Pyramid, the central temple of the Citadel, a large ceremonial hall measuring 400m on a side. It is said to represent the headdress of the Feathered Snake God, which is a symbol of Venus and power, and the creator god, Shivakhtri, who symbolizes the beginning of time (calendar).

At the venue, the installation was devised so that you can see how these stone carvings protrude from the pyramid.

The feathered serpent god's wavy body is repeatedly carved with the motif of the Cipactri's headdress, so the entire Feathered Serpent Pyramid is the first monument in Mesoamerica to represent sacred kingship and coronation. It is thought that

Among the artifacts excavated from the 15m – deep, 103m-long tunnel beneath the Feathered Snake Pyramid, the trumpet, a musical instrument made from the tip of a snail shell, was eye-catching. This work has an iconography similar in style and content to that of Mayan religious centers, which is not found in Teotihuacan.

Buried in the burial body of the Teotihuacan dwelling site was an animal-shaped pottery with gorgeous decorations such as shells, which the excavator named "a strange duck". Since it was found with many shellfish products, it is thought that it was a grave goods related to shellfish traders who traded with the Gulf of Mexico.

Exhibits such as the "Trumpet" and "Bird Pottery" tell us that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic city with thriving trade and market economic activities.

In addition, the murals and earthenware that make you imagine life in Teotihuacan are also interesting.
Multicolored murals, such as the Storm God Mural , which is said to represent one of Teotihuacan's principal deities, the storm god, or Tlaloc, the rain god, are found in many apartment complexes and ceremonial facilities. It was

In addition, many incense burners excavated from the ruins of dwellings were made by rearranging various decorative pieces according to their purpose. The "incense burner" on display is thought to have been used for ceremonial requiems for dead warriors, based on motifs such as arrows and shields.

Chapter 3 "Rise and Fall of Mayan City-States"

Chapter 3, "The Rise and Fall of Maya City-States," introduces the culture and dynasties of the Mayan civilization, which flourished around the Yucatan Peninsula from around 1200 BC to the 16th century. This section is composed of the largest number of works in this exhibition.

It is said that the Maya established a dynasty with a distinct culture and form of governance around the first century AD. However, it has never been politically unified, and has formed a large network society through friendly exchanges such as trade between countless cities and the coming and going of diplomatic missions, and sometimes wars for supremacy. The excavated items convey various trends in the Mayan region.

One of the Maya's forested cities is Palenque , a middle-sized city that prospered in the western region between 400 and 800 AD. In particular, the artifacts excavated from the tomb of the Red Queen (Reina Roja), which will be exhibited for the first time in Japan, is one of the highlights of this exhibition, which is famous as a masterpiece of dynasty art .

Palenque, the city of art, is known for its sophisticated architecture, sculptures and inscriptions, and its golden age was the reign of King Kinichi Hanab Pakal (615-683).
It is said that while King Pakal strengthened the influence of Palenque through diplomacy and warfare, he also focused on expanding the royal palace, making it one of the most magnificent buildings in the Mayan region. His body was placed in a mausoleum called the Temple of Inscriptions, which is said to have been designed by King Pakal himself.

The body, called "Red Queen (Reina Roja)", was found in 1994 in Temple 13 next to the Temple of Inscriptions. Its common name comes from the fact that it was buried covered with bright red cinnabar (mercury red). As a result of the investigation, it is highly likely that this person is Ish Tsakub Ahau, the wife of King Pakal.

At the venue, the 12 burial goods of the "Red Queen" were attached to mannequins to recreate the state of burial in a space inspired by the stone chamber of Temple 13. The "Red Queen's Mask" is made of small pieces of malachite, with obsidian for the eyes and white jadeite for the whites of the eyes.

Although it is not shown in the photograph, among the beautiful grave goods such as necklaces and crowns, there was a small, unremarkable "needle" quietly displayed next to the mannequin that caught my eye. Strange as it may seem, spinning and weaving is one of the activities that women of all social classes do, and the needle was also used by the "Red Queen" on a daily basis and was thought to be necessary in the afterlife. that there is
Not only do they dress up according to their status, but they also empathize with the life-size wish of the person himself or the people around him, who say, "I want to live without trouble."

Next to the reproduction exhibition, video materials of the excavation survey of "Red Queen" were also played.

In addition, at the exhibition of the 96-character lithograph found in the royal palace of Palenque ruins, we were able to thoroughly appreciate the picturesque and beautifully shaped Mayan characters.

The Maya script is a mysterious language composed of logograms and syllabaries, but currently about 700 characters and various combinations that are said to be tens of thousands of weaves are being elucidated. People's deeds were thought to reproduce the deeds of gods and ancestors, so letters were mainly used to record the histories of kings and nations, as well as court ceremonies.
This work also records the accession of the kings of Palenque with exact dates.

Like in Japan, calligraphy was not only used to convey information, but was also loved as a work of art in the Maya.

After the decline of Palenque and many other cities, the excavated artifacts of Chechen Itza, which became the largest city in the Maya region in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula around 900, are also worth seeing.
Among them, "Charcoal statue" is a work that I felt the scariest of this exhibition after reading the explanation. On the belly of the statue there is something like a plate, in which it is possible that an offering, sometimes a heart taken from a human sacrifice, was placed…

In this exhibition, there are many frightening keywords such as "sacrifice" and "human sacrifice." These peculiar practices have persisted in Mesoamerica for over 3,000 years, and modern sensibilities may raise eyebrows at their brutality.

However, it is not just an inhumane ritual act. All life forms are born and move through the work and sacrifice of the gods. This was due to the ethics of the indigenous peoples, who believed that principles must be maintained. There is a universal prayer to God and nature.

Chapter 4 "The Great Temple of the Aztec Tenochtitlan"

Chapter 4 "Temple of the Aztec Tenochtitlan" is a large city of the Aztec Kingdom of Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico) founded in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco in the central highlands of Mexico by people whose mother tongue was Nahuatl , such as the Mexica. City) excavated items. With a population of over 200,000 at its peak, it prospered until it fell to Spain in 1521.

By the way, in the central highlands of Mexico, civilizations rise and fall in the order of Teotihuacan ⇒ Toltec ⇒ Aztec. The name "Teotihuacan", which means "City of the Gods" in Nahuatl, was named by the Mexica people of the Aztec kingdom who discovered the ruins.

The Aztecs, which strengthened their national power with military power and a tribute system, brought amazing developments in architecture and painting, especially sculpture. Tenochtitlan, where the Aztecs concentrated their wealth, is said to have created a creative environment unlike any other in history, with national and international artists sharing techniques, tastes and traditions.

The courageous "Eagle Warrior Statue" conveys a part of the creative beauty of Tenochtitlan.

At the heart of Tenochtitlan stood the Templo Mayor, a pair of majestic pyramidal temples dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and war, and Tlaloc, god of rain and earth. This work was discovered in the "Eagle House" on the north side of the Great Temple. Life-size and powerful.

Many experts consider them to be the warriors of the "Eagle Legion" under the direct control of the king, who played an important role in battle and religion. It seems that there are still various theories that it represents the appearance of Lopochitori.

Many of the sculptures on display represented the gods worshiped by the Aztecs.

"Tralok God's Vase" is impressive with its bulging eyes and bright blue.
Mesoamerica, an agricultural society, is said to have had an obsession with controlling rainfall for centuries. Therefore, prayers, offerings, and child sacrifices were all devoted to Tlaloc, the rain god and 'giver' who provides everything that plants need to germinate.

It is believed that this work contains a wish for rain and a bountiful harvest, as the pot for storing water is decorated with the deity Tralok.

One of the exhibits is a "mask" made of green serpentinite, and it has a similar atmosphere to the "mosaic statue" introduced in the Teotihuacan exhibition in Chapter 2. In fact, it was a mask excavated from the ruins of Teotihuacan, polished by the Mexicans, and touched with eyes and earrings.

It is said that the people of the late postclassic period (1250-1521), including the Messikas, dug up past civilizations and dedicated them to their temples as sacred substances with magical powers. One of the interesting things about this exhibition is that you can feel these connections.

At the end of the exhibition, pendants, earrings, and scepter-shaped ornaments made of gold, which are rare in Mesoamerica, were exhibited all at once, showing the latest excavation results of Templo Mayor.

At the venue, we were particular about the production of the exhibition space, such as video materials that convey the charm of the ancient city ruins and realistic reproduction exhibitions, and we could feel the atmosphere of ancient Mexico just by walking. It is also a nice point that the distance between the exhibits is wide and it is easy to appreciate.

By the way, at present, all the exhibits in the venue are allowed to be photographed for personal use only. (There is a possibility that it will be canceled or changed in the future, so please see the information in the hall and the official website for details.)

The special exhibition “Ancient Mexico” explores the depth and charm of the cultural traditions of ancient Mexico, which are still passed down by the people living in the land. The event will be held until September 3, 2023 (Sun).

Overview of the Special Exhibition “Ancient Mexico: Maya, Aztec, and Teotihuacan”

*The content of the article is as of the interview date (June 15, 2023). Please check the official website for the latest information.

Article provided by: kokosil Ueno

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Ueno Royal Museum

A unique dinosaur exhibition that collects only dinosaur art centered on paintings, not fossils and skeletal specimens, a special exhibition “Dinosaur Picture Book-Imagination / Creation of the Lost World” May 31, 2023 (Wednesday)-7 It is being held at the Ueno Royal Museum on Saturday, March 22nd.

This exhibition draws attention for its large number of works by Charles R. Knight and Zdenek Briand, two of the greatest dinosaur paintings of the 20th century. Report on the state of the venue.

When we think of dinosaur exhibitions, we usually think of exhibits centering on fossils and skeletal specimens, but in this exhibition , we draw paleontological creatures such as dinosaurs based on scientific evidence such as fossils, which are usually placed beside those materials. The spotlight is on ecological reconstruction map = “Paleoart” .

Dinosaurs, which ruled the earth in the Mesozoic Era from about 250 to 66 million years ago, came to be known to the general public through ecological reconstruction maps following the excavation of fossils in the first half of the 19th century. Since then, many scholars have worked hand-in-hand with artists to try to reproduce the appearance of ancient creatures full of romance from ancient times.

At the venue, about 150 pieces of paleo art collected from all over the world will be displayed, ranging from strange reconstruction drawings drawn in the early days to masterpieces by contemporary artists based on recent research.

In the 200 years since the “discovery” of dinosaurs until today, we will trace how the expressions of dinosaurs (paleontology) have changed as the scientific basis changes with each new discovery.

Chapter 1 “The Birth of Dinosaurs – Strange Monsters of the Dawn”

The exhibition consists of four chapters. Chapter 1, “The Birth of Dinosaurs – Strange Monsters of the Dawn” introduces a group of works created with limited knowledge shortly after the “discovery” of dinosaurs in the 19th century. You can enjoy a unique appearance that is far from the dinosaurs that we imagine in our minds.

At the beginning, the lithograph “Douria Antiquiol (Ancient Dorset)” (1830) based on the original painting by geologist Henry de La Beach, is said to be one of the first paintings in history to restore the ecology of paleontology. Display your work.

The work is a female fossil collector known for contributing to the development of paleontology in the 19th century by discovering marine reptiles such as the ichthyosaur Ichthyosaurus and the plesiosaur plesiosaur before the dinosaurs in Dorset, southern England. It was made to honor the achievements of Mary Anning .

Set on the prehistoric coast of Dorset, it is filled with ancient creatures discovered by Anning. Attention is drawn to the right side of the screen, and it seems that the Ichthyosaurus is biting the thin neck of the Plesiosaurus.

Hiroki Okamoto (Professor at Kobe Design University and former curator at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art), the organizer of this exhibition, said, “From modern research, it’s hard to imagine an ichthyosaur attacking a plesiosaur. It conveys that there was an image of a predator that was overwhelmingly stronger.”

In addition, this exhibition focuses on introducing the evolution of the image of Iguanodon , the first dinosaur to be “discovered” along with Megalosaurus.

British physician and amateur geologist Gideon Mantell, known as “the man who discovered the dinosaurs”, named it “Iguanodon” (iguana tooth) in 1825 because it had teeth similar to those of the modern reptile Iguana. It seems that this creature was originally imagined as a gigantic iguana.

An early example of an Iguanodon, George Schaaf’s Reconstructed Reptile (1833), depicts an exceptionally large Iguanodon with its enormous body crawling on the ground and its long, snake-like tail undulating.

However, if you look at the sculpture Iguanodon of the Crystal Palace produced around 1853, the image has undergone a minor change. Iguanodon’s four legs descended straight from its body to the ground like mammals such as elephants and rhinos.

It was created under the guidance of Richard Owen , the most influential British paleontologist of the time and the person who coined the word “dinosaur” . According to Okamoto, this physical feature is one of the current definitions of dinosaurs.

Furthermore, the discovery of near-perfect Iguanodon fossils in Belgian coal mines in 1878-80 greatly revised the image of the Iguanodon reconstruction that had spread for nearly 50 years since Mantell’s discovery. Especially. It turned out that it was erecting its upper body, and that the bones previously thought to be the snout horns were actually thumb spikes on its forelimbs.

For nearly 100 years, Iguanodon was depicted in paleo art as a bipedal creature with sharp spikes on its forelimbs. In the following chapters 2 and 4, you can see works depicting the appearance of Iguanodon that “evolved” while being modified in this way.

In addition, in Chapter 1, eerie dinosaurs that look and behave like humans are disgusted by their friends who are being attacked and retreat, or walk around the residential area like a monster movie. It is interesting that there are works that depict dinosaurs more like story paintings than restoration paintings. It was a glimpse of the people’s fluffy perception of dinosaurs and the richness of their imagination at the time.

Chapter 2 “Establishment and Popularization of Classical Dinosaur Images”

In Chapter 2, “Establishment and Popularization of Classical Dinosaur Statues,” which introduces works from the golden age of paleo art from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, Charles R. and Zdeněk Briand have a lot of space.

The stage for dinosaur excavation and research gradually shifted from Europe to the North American continent, and from the 1870s to the 1890s, two paleontologists fought a fierce battle called the “Bone Wars” over the discovery of dinosaur fossils. We waged a competition. As a result, numerous types of dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Triceratops were found, revealing the diversity of animals that lived in the Mesozoic Era.

Charles R. Knight (1874-1953), an American paleontology painter, was the greatest contributor to the realistic visualization of new dinosaurs that had taken off the veil of the unknown and popularized them.

Knight, who was also a wildlife painter, left nearly 1,000 paintings of living animals, and it is believed that the observational eyes and biological knowledge cultivated through such activities were useful in the creation of paleo art.

Knight’s realistic landscapes, and the lively figures of dinosaurs and extinct creatures placed within them, were excellent for the time in terms of both anatomical and natural environment depictions, and soon became popular. It has attracted the attention of both the general public and experts. His work had an impact on film culture, such as the movies “The Lost World” (1925) and “King Kong” (1933).

In the exhibition of Knight’s work, one of his greatest masterpieces , Cretaceous-Montana (1928), one of the sketches for the murals of the Field Museum of Natural History, cannot be overlooked.

“Cretaceous-Montana” is a monumental work that fixed the image of the rivalry between the stars of the dinosaur world, “Tyrannosaurus vs. Triceratops,” and has become widely known as a work that symbolizes dinosaur painting itself. The tense composition has been imitated and adapted by many subsequent artists, and it often appears in the entertainment world such as movies and comics, so many people should have seen it at least once. I was deeply moved that this was the original.

On the other hand, Zdenek Brian (1905-1981), a painter from Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), gained popularity in a generation slightly after Knight.

Although Knight’s work was a departure from the unrealistic paleo art of the previous era, Briand was also an excellent painter. His works, based on the tradition of realism in European art, were so persuasive that you might believe it if you were told that he had actually seen the real thing and painted it.

Looking at the paleontological creatures that Brian draws, they naturally have a body temperature, and you can tell that they are living creatures.

Briand’s works gained popularity around the world with books such as the masterpiece “Breaks of the Last Century” (1956), and were reproduced and copied in large numbers in children’s encyclopedias and children’s books here in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s. , is said to have played a decisive role in establishing the image of dinosaurs of an era. For this reason, people of the generation who were obsessed with dinosaur encyclopedias during this period may find a lot of works that make them feel like they’ve seen this somewhere before.

In the past, it was not possible to determine the color of dinosaurs from fossils, so artists used their own guesses to color them. The contrast of te … is strongly impressed. The Stegosaurus in Antrodemus Valens and Stegosaurus Stenopus (1950) is probably one of the sources of that image. I was able to realize the magnitude of Brian’s influence.

This exhibition brings together 18 precious Briand works. It is the biggest attraction.

Also, in the same chapter, we can admire the majestic figure of the past of Hypsilophodon, which was popular as a “tree-climbing dinosaur” but later discovered that the restoration itself, which was the basis of research in the first place, was wrong.

Chapter 3 “History of Reception of Dinosaurs in Japan”

The image of dinosaurs that was established in Europe and the United States entered Japan at the end of the 19th century. Chapter 3, “History of Reception of Dinosaurs in Japan,” changes direction and introduces dinosaurs that were rooted in Japanese cultural history from the Meiji to Showa eras. In addition to science magazines, children’s comics, and classic science fiction translations such as Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1912), toys such as soft vinyl dolls and plaster figurines imitating dinosaurs are also on display. .

In addition, he also explains the symbolism of dinosaurs in the realm of general art, so-called fine art, whose purpose is not to realistically reproduce dinosaurs. (Some works from Heisei to Reiwa are also included)

Ichiro Fukuzawa, who brought surrealism to Japan and produced many works that included social satire and criticism of civilization , Ichiro Fukuzawa’s Reptiles Infested and Reptiles Perish (1974) are interesting in their bold composition of dinosaur limbs. The contrast between the intense colors of the blue sky and the setting sun, the ephemeral appearance of the giant beings that once boasted prosperity, and the appearance of small mammals flocking to take their place are said to satirize Japan’s factional politics.

Ai Shinohara 《From the Cradle to the Graveyard》 (2010-2011), which reminds us of the traditional image of “death and maiden” in Western painting, where no matter how beautiful a girl is, cannot escape old age and death; Hiroshi Fuji, Jurassic Plastic (2023) , reminds us that petroleum, the raw material of plastic, was originally the fossil of dinosaurs and other creatures, and at the same time, considers the problem of mass production and mass consumption. ), etc., were all large-scale and worth seeing.

Chapter 4 “Reconstruction of image based on scientific knowledge”

In Chapter 4, “Reconstruction of images based on scientific knowledge,” the topic returns to the changes in images of dinosaurs. Dinosaur research from the 1960s to the 1970s saw a revolution called the “Dinosaur Renaissance,” in which the view that dinosaurs were “active warm-blooded animals” rather than slow poikilotherms as previously thought was presented. Dinosaur statues have been greatly redesigned. One after another, works that expressed the appearance of new dinosaurs were born.

In the exhibition, illustrator William Stout , who boasts a cult-like popularity even in the field of fantasy art, and Michael Tursic , who worked on the three-dimensional model of the movie “Jurassic Park”, and an accurate and powerful touch of dinosaurs based on art anatomy. A wide variety of works by talented paleo artists who have appeared since 1960, such as Takashi Oda , the leading artist of paleo-creature restoration paintings in modern Japan, will be competing.

Contemporary artists are making dinosaurs move with agility. John Bindon’s “The Front of the Storm” (1996), in which a tyrannosaurus runs at a tremendous speed while raising water splashes, and Gregory Paul ‘s “Shichipachi and Sauro,” which seems to capture the moment when dinosaurs start moving all at once, whether they are friends or foes. Lunithoides (1989) and others have a different sense of dynamism compared to the dinosaurs seen in Chapter 2.

I have the impression that the individuality of the works is also strong. Douglas Henderson ‘s works, which are breathtakingly beautiful and lyrical pastels, precisely expressing the light and air of the ancient world, are like looking at a high-quality photo book.

While many painters focus on the dinosaurs themselves, Henderson has a strong tendency to depict dinosaurs together with the environment in which they lived at the time. situation. I draw so that it blends into the scenery without focusing.

I was completely drawn into the clever composition, which overlapped with common memories such as when I was trying to shoot a sunset and a bird was accidentally captured, or when I was walking in the forest and found a squirrel in the depths of the trees.

As academic knowledge increases, the special exhibition “Dinosaur Encyclopedia-Imagination/Creation of the Lost World” will be held until Saturday, July 22, 2023. . Of course, the contents will stir up the romance of the ancient world, and it is a rare opportunity to see paleo art that straddles the ages, so please check it out.

Overview of the special exhibition “Dinosaur Encyclopedia – Imagination/Creation of the Lost World”

※※The content of the article is as of the interview date (May 30, 2023). Please check the official website for the latest information.

Article provided by: kokosil Ueno

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The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts

Taito Ward and Tokyo University of the Arts have deepened exchanges and cooperation over many years, starting with the “Taito Ward Mayor Award” established in 1981. Many artists have made their way into the world through the Taito Ward Mayor’s Award, and it can be said that the award has made a great contribution to the development of young artists.

In this exhibition, 40 of the Taito Ward Mayor Award-winning works created by the students will be exhibited.

Exhibited at the “Taito City Collection Exhibition – Artists who have left Ueno, a city of culture and art -” is the “ Taito City Collection”, which honors outstanding students of Tokyo University of the Arts and whose graduation works are collected by Taito City. A collection of works that won the Mayor’s Award . In other words, they are all student works.

The Taito Ward Mayor’s Award system, which began in 1981, is awarded to one person each from Japanese paintings and oil paintings / prints of the painting department of the Faculty of Fine Arts. joined). Many of the awardees later went on to be active on the front lines of the industry, and we can see that they played a role as a gateway to success for young artists.

Tracing the “changes” of expressions in Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa

The themes of this exhibition are “transition” and “diversity.”
In this exhibition, 40 works from the Taito Ward Mayor Award, which has been awarded for more than 40 years over the three eras of Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, will be displayed. Since then, artists who have been active on the front lines and recent winners who are expected to make great strides in the future will gather together in one place the works that they have created as a culmination of their student days.
Of course, each piece is attractive, but we also pay attention to the changes in trends over time and the diversity of ideas that are not bound by the framework of “Japanese painting” or “oil painting”.

This exhibition consists of two parts, and the first half introduces award-winning Japanese paintings, oil paintings, and prints that have been collected in Taito Ward since the previous exhibition (2016). Originally, the 6th “Taito Collection Exhibition” was scheduled to be held in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Games, but it was postponed due to the new coronavirus infection and was held for the first time in seven years.
In the first half, the works of young artists created over the past seven years are exhibited at once.

On the other hand, in the second half, works carefully selected from the successive works of the Taito Ward Mayor’s Award are exhibited. Starting with the work of Yuji Tezuka (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of the Arts), who won the first award, there will be a line-up of gems that have won the same award over the past 42 years.

What you can feel at the venue is the energy of the “fetal movement” of the young artists who are about to take off. In novels, it is often said that “the maiden work contains all of the writer’s work,” but it may be possible to find themes and styles that underlie their subsequent works in these works. .
It can be said that this exhibition will provide vivid discoveries and impressions for both fans who are already familiar with their activities and those who will come into contact with their work for the first time.

Introduction of exhibited works

Here are some of the works on display.

“Labyrinth” Yuji Tezuka 1981

Is this what a real “meeting” is like? A mysterious space where animals talk

A meeting where everyone expresses their own opinions. The labyrinth spreads endlessly behind the woman who is the chairman. It is a work that expresses a chaotic and mysterious world by comparing the people around you to animals. (From the creator)

<Yuji Tezuka>
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1953. Member of the Japan Art Institute, executive director, professor emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts, and special director of the Fukui Fine Arts Museum. As a Japanese painter who leads the contemporary Japanese painting world, he continues to work vigorously.

“Dancing in the fields with pillows” Masafumi Kikuchi 1992

A work that reconstructs the stage he directed as a “landscape painting”

1992, Minami-Azabu Sannohashi. Released every Saturday and Sunday for about two months Weekly one-shot play “Is the Great Detective Really There?” Many people who have seen the whole story have not seen this picture. (From the creator)

<Masafumi Kikuchi>
Born in Kobe in 1968. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Painting, Oil Painting. Engaged in painting, theater production, and music production, he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Japan and overseas. “Nobe ni Makura de Odori Makure” was produced in 1992 with the aim of experiencing the stage play “Wet Feathers Can’t Grab the Sky” through landscape paintings.

“Encounter with Trees” Yasuto Ide 1989

The mystery of Yakushima where light and darkness intersect

When I entered graduate school, I went on a trip to Yakushima alone. It is an island with banyan trees on the coastline, virgin forests in the forest, and heavy snowfall at the summit. I sketched while staying at a mountain hut and created an impression of walking around in the forest. The world where moss-covered branches stretch in all directions, and darkness and light intersect is a mysterious and solemn space. (From the creator)

<Yasuhito Ide>
Born in 1962 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Completed graduate school at Tokyo University of the Arts. Currently, the Japan Art Institute special treatment. Professor of the Faculty of Arts, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts. It is characterized by a gentle and fantastical style that women and flowers create.

Overview of the event

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