Month: April 2019

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

From April 23 (Tuesday) to July 10 (Wednesday), 2019, "Klimt Exhibition Vienna and Japan 1900" will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Prior to the opening, the press preview was held on April 22 and we will tell about the situation.

Gorgeous decorativeness using many gilts. End-of-the-century sensuality that also senses death, eros, and the chain of life. At the end of the 19th century Vienna, the lovely female statues and landscapes created by painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) are still overwhelmingly popular.

This exhibition, which is held to commemorate 100 years after his death, from the early naturalistic works to the style of the age of the "Golden Age" that everyone knows, women's paintings and landscape paintings, Klimt's oil paintings have been past in Japan The largest collection of more than 25 works. Furthermore, the works of painters who were active in the same period, Japanese art objects influenced by Klimt, etc. will be introduced together, and the whole picture of Klimt's painting business will be approached.

Exhibition scenery

This exhibition has eight chapters.

I Klimt and his family
II Training period and theater decoration
III Private life
IV Vienna and Japan 1990
V Vienna separatist
VI landscape painting
VII Portrait
VIII Linkage of life

Klimt did not talk much in life, saying , "If you want to know about me, you should observe my pictures carefully."
It is just the "life" itself that is transmitted from his picture so as to support the words. The composition of the exhibit is also organized to follow Klimt's painting work from the beginning.

Klimt is a gorgeous golden style, but its style was born after trial and error. Klimt initially worked on orthodox classical paintings through the management of the atelier "artist company", but his co-owner, his younger brother, quickly turned to the "Viennese separatist" in 1897. Klimt became its first president and took off an academic and conservative style, and brought out a unique world view.

In addition, this exhibition will introduce you to the style of the moving Klimt, but chapter 4 can not be overlooked.
Klimt was fond of collecting Japanese art objects such as Ukiyo-e and Kai, but he exhibited works that showed his research results, such as “17-year-old Emilylier Frege” . I will interpret and interpret the painting world in the context of "Japan and Klimt".

Introduction of exhibited works

Gustav Klimt "Judit I" 1901

Judith I, known as Klimt's masterpiece.

"This work has all the elements that make Klimt a famous painter today," said Marks Ferringer, the curator of the Austrian Art Museum Belvedere, who described the exhibition.

The subject is a scene of the Old Testament Foreign Scripture. A young widow, Judith, has seduced Holofernes, who has encircled the Jewish town of Bethuria, and cut off his neck.
Stylized compositions, decorative patterns, eroticism of widows exposing nakedness. And above all, real gold leaf is used, and it is a symbolic work that has truly become the "end of the golden age".

Although Judito's expression of looking at this with his hollow eyes runs scared, at this time Klimt is obliged to support him by having two unextracted children, and such personal circumstances are reflected in his work It seems to have been done (!).

Gustav Klimt "Portrait of Eugenia Primafez" 1913 or 14

Portrait of a woman who is one of Klimt's most important supporters and wife of a wealthy banker.
On the screen are colorful flowers, and in the upper right corner are drawn porcelain, or a symbol that symbolizes good luck and longevity that may have been inspired by a cloisonne figurine.

Of note is the yellowness of the background. Klimt uses complementary colors in most of his later works, and in this work the background yellow color and the color of the eugenia dress and the floral decoration are contrasted.

Gustav Klimt "The Three Generations of Women" 1905

The eighth chapter, entitled “The Linkage of Life,” discusses the critically influenced theme of Klimt's pictorial world, the relationship between life and sex from reproduction to death.
This work is a work that directly deals with such themes, and has a very mysterious presence among the Klimt works exhibited in this exhibition.

Sleeping infants and young women full of vitality, colored by flowers. An old woman who sighs with a noddy posture behind it.
This is a masterpiece depicting the "three generations of women" on one screen, symbolically depicting the figures of women at each stage of their life.
The strangeness of the decoration, such as triangles, circles, and swirls that color them, is also impressive.

The Japanese artist Kijiro Ota, who saw the work in Rome between 1911 and 1913, pointed out that "the taste of Japanese painting" can be seen in this work, such as the depiction of Japanese paintings and the patterns of friends. . Klimt's work says that the composition, combination of colors, and patterns are unique to Japan. In this work, it seems that the lives of Japanese paintings in Vienna and in Klimt paintings are inherited.

"All works, whether they are portraits or landscapes, are common to Gustav Klimt that the paintings were ornaments. It's not something that's drawn with an eye-catcher, as portraits are treated as decorative as well, and this is one of the characteristics of Klimt's paintings. "

Marks Ferringer emphasized "decorability" in Klimt's paintings in the exhibition commentary, and at the same time he said that "the most important being" in the context of the 19th century Vienna art world.

The universe of his thoughts that can be seen by turning around a number of venues in turn. And lifetime.
Please enjoy various expressions including innovation and eros, and "golden style" at the venue.

Outline of the event

Article Provided by：Kokosil Ueno

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Tokyo National Museum

In the Heisei-kan, a special exhibition “National Treasure Toji Temple-Kukai and Buddha Statue Manra” will be held from March 26 (Tuesday) to June 2 (Sun), 2019.

As we participated in the press conference held prior to the event, we will tell about the situation.

To-ji Temple (Koh Gokoku-ji Temple) was built along with West-ji Temple as a public temple for the protection of the Great Castle, along with Heian-Kei’s capital relocation. Kukai Kobo Daishi, who returned to learn the esoteric is a new Buddhism in Tang, look forward to Toji than Emperor Saga in 823 years, was the root dojo of Shingon esoteric Buddhism.

Kukai said, “Esotericism is so deep, it is difficult to describe in sentences. Instead, I draw a drawing and show it to something that I can not understand” (“Gyorai catalog”) , I emphasized it. From this point of view, there are still many excellent items in esoteric art.

In this exhibition, we introduce the full spectrum of cultural assets from Toji Temple, including many famous treasures related to Kukai.

On the next seven days, the way to go to school

Kukai says it is confidential to practice and practice in accordance with the scriptures. The most important of the various disciplines is the practice seven days after being held at Shingon-in, a secular shrine set up in the palace.

It is prayed for the health of the nation’s security and the emperor, and it has been held in Toji since the Meiji era.

It is not clear what kind of practice is being done, but for this exhibition, photography of the setting in the dojo during the ceremonies is permitted, and the situation is reproduced in the exhibition hall. This is a valuable opportunity to learn about the precious ceremonies!

Both worlds mandala

Mandala is a visual representation of the world view of Buddhist scriptures in a variety of ways. The “two world mandala”, which Kukai emphasized, is the “Jokura world mandala” that represents the world of the scriptures “Dai Nikkei” and “Kongo Shokai” and “ It refers to the Kongokai Mandara. Both world mandalas are also used in the 7 days later.

In this exhibition, we will replace and display 3 sets of both world mandalas (total 6) during the period.

It is here to be displayed from March 26 (Tuesday) to April 7 (Sunday). Kukai is the second transcript of the colored mandala (Nera Mandara) brought back from China and is designated as an Important Cultural Property.

Mandala is a way of showing deep secular teachings to anyone. The layout map of Mandala is also on display, so please try to decipher the world centered on Dainichi.

Three-dimensional mandala

In the auditorium of To-ji Temple, 21 groups of Buddha statues are said to have three-dimensionally represented the world view of “Kongo Zong”, a fundamental scripture of esoteric religion. These three-dimensional mandala was designed by Kukai. Among these, the 15 exhibitions that will be the largest exhibition ever made are on display.

Kukai says, “The Buddha of Mandala is neatly arranged like a tree in the forest, with various colors of red and blue .” It is considered to be a word conscious of the Kongo world mandala. Like the words, it is a masterpiece that 15 Buddha statues line up in a large exhibition hall.

You can also admire the statues of the famous Buddha statues of Buddha Buddha No. 1 handsome.

VR work “Kukai form of prayer”

At the same time as the main exhibition, the VR work “Kukai prayer form” is being screened on the first floor of the Tokyo National Museum.

In addition to following the locus of action construction from the arrival of Kukai, you can enjoy the image that reproduces the Buddha image of 21 three-dimensional mandala by VR technology. The 7-meter high “Dainichi Nyorai” placed in the center of the three-dimensional mandala is projected in full size, and it is a powerful score. Please enjoy it together with this exhibition!

Summary of the event

Article courtesy : Kokosil Ueno

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Taito Ward Asakura Engraving Museum

Asakura Sculptor’s Museum is located a 3-minute walk from Yanaka Ginza shopping district, leaving the atmosphere of the downtown area. The building which was the atelier and residence of the sculptor Fumio Asakura (1883-1964) is open to the public. Of course it is possible to appreciate the sculpture work by the hand of Asakura, but the building which Asakura himself designed was registered with the tangible cultural property of the country (2001), and the whole site is the country as “Former Asakura Fumio Garden”. Designated as a scenic spot in (2008). The Asakura Sculpture Museum, where you can enjoy works, buildings and gardens, has been attracting attention from overseas tourists in recent years.

This time, as it was interviewed at the Asakura Sculptor’s Hall at the exhibition held from August 8 (Fri) to June 5 (Wed), 2019, “The handsome guy selected by himself in the process of being selected ★ Oshimen” I will tell you.

Among the works held by the Asakura Sculptor’s Museum, the special feature in the permanent exhibition displays works that the staff members thought were handsome.

The front is a popular NO. 1 “pre-competition” from the staff. Small face, characterized by a firm and muscular body

Atelier which takes a big window and pours in natural light. Somewhat warm atmosphere while using concrete because curves are used a lot. It also seems that the shadows are soft. The ceiling height is 8.5m.

The work which made the police dog star number a model was chosen as a handsome. Not only the person but also the work modeled on the animal faithfully reproduces the real thing and sees the details. This is a sad but outrageous star.

Asakura’s masterpiece “Tombguard”. A work that captures the unspoiled appearance of a grave ward old man. The expression that life experience exudes is handsome

Continue from the atelier to the study.

About half of the huge books stored in built-in bookshelves are foreign books. Most of the foreign books were from Toru Iwamura, an assistant teacher at the time of Tokyo Art School (now Tokyo University of the Arts) in Asakura. After Iwamura’s death, Asakura put in debt and collected it all together so that his books would not dissipate. Asakura deeply respects Iwamura and learned a lot from him.

I found a handsome figure in the study. Futaba Statue

A bookend entitled “Two-handed cooperation”

It was made of concrete so far, but it will be wooden from the sitting room following the residence. Asakura with a good sense of beauty was good at harmonizing different elements. The atelier made of concrete and the wooden part made of Sukiya are adjacent without a sense of discomfort.

Many Chinese books are owned. Asakura prefers Chinese hobbies to life

It is a corridor garden that should be noted especially in the wooden part. All rooms are designed to have a view of the garden with plenty of water, and you can enjoy different views depending on where you look. Asakura, who is from Oita Prefecture, which is rich in water, seems to have put particular emphasis on this garden structure. Asakura will have lived a life that feels the change of the season with this residence.

It is said that Asakura has refrained from producing sculptures, as air conditioning is not effective and air conditioning is not effective because the atelier has a large ceiling and a large space. I was writing a manuscript in my room with a view of the garden in cold weather

Stairs leading to the second floor. It uses a lot of logs and bamboos, and has a distinctive design that combines roundness and straight lines

The boundary between the concrete architecture (right) and the wooden Sukiya (left) seen from the second floor. Different materials are admirably fused

On the third floor, we have a Japanese-style room to receive a guest called “For the Chaoyang”. It is a room where you can feel the commitment of Asakura using extravagant materials such as a ceiling lined with cedar bark of Kojiro cedar and a wall with a crushed agate.

There is no level difference between the floors, and the wall is rounded. The setting and taste of the sencha hobbies are a good summary of the whole. The table in the front is designed by Asakura and can be disassembled to the size of a closet

There is a garden on the roof of concrete architecture.

Asakura named this “Asakura sculpted 塾” and has received many disciples. As part of their education, they planted vegetables in the roof garden, and gave disciples the opportunity to touch the soil and observe the process of becoming vegetables from seeds. Asakura’s style is called naturalistic realism, but I was keen to observe the model in detail and faithfully reproduce it. In this way, there was a conviction that the technique was to touch the object with your own hands and be refined from where you feel.

Olive tree

Today, the roof garden is planted with agapanthus and roses, and it entertains visitors every season. In addition, vegetable garden is cultivated in part, and vegetables are cultivated.

Asakura, who loved Oriental Orchid, made a greenhouse on the second floor for the cultivation of orchids. Currently, cat sculptures are on display at the “Ranma”. Asakura loves cats and has left many works with cat motifs.

At the same time as this exhibition, “Taito Tosu” related project “Yohito Saito Photo Exhibition” is also held.

There are five works of Asakura Sculptural Museum, which photographer Yoto Saito took down for Taito Tosu, a cultural arts public relations magazine published by Taito Ward.

Asakura Sculptural Museum, including gardens and architecture, can all be said to have been created under the aesthetics of Asakura. Asakura’s commitment was felt in every corner, and the look was enough. The unique project exhibitions “Domestically selected handsome men” and “Taito Tosu” related projects “Yoshido Saito Photography Exhibition” will be held until June 5, 2019 (Wednesday). How about going by all means once at this opportunity?

Usage guide

※ Please prepare socks when entering the hall

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