EXHIBITION
Exhibition
-
- Current
Collection Exhibition 1 Vessels
2022.5.21(Sat.) - 2022.10.16(Sun.)
This exhibition will focus on the theme of utsuwa (vessels) in contemporary art, drawing mainly on works from the museum’s collection including those newly acquired in fiscal 2021. The word utsuwa has a wide range of implications, from containers with specific functions, to utensils of various kinds, to people’s tolerance and generosity, indicating the importance of the concept in both practical and conceptual terms. Looking back over the history of vessels, Japan’s prehistoric Jōmon pottery was highly prized especially in collective living environments such as villages, and was used for everyday purposes such as storing gathered nuts, plants, and animals and cooking food. At the same time, many of these pieces of pottery feature vibrant ornamentation and patterns that seem to represent the ancient rhythms of life, and they are recognized not only for their practicality but also for their extraordinary decorative qualities. It is easy to see that vessels, which have served people in daily life and religious faith since ancient times, have played vital roles in connecting the human and the natural world, both as everyday items and as sacred implements indispensable for rituals and ceremonies. The human body, too, is sometimes referred to as the vessel of the soul, based on the idea that in the cycle of reincarnation, the soul endures and is repeatedly transferred into a new body-as-vessel with each rebirth. If we think of the body as a vessel, we can see an image of the soul residing in that vessel connecting with the natural world and the realm of the sacred through the body’s five senses, and the body as the vehicle for sensations that awaken memories from long ago. By examining utsuwa, so central to our lives, from various angles, this exhibition seeks to provide an opportunity to ponder their meaning and value.
… -
- Upcoming
The Timeless Imagination of Yves Klein: Uncertainty and the Immateriality
2022.10.1(Sat.) - 2023.3.5(Sun.)
This exhibition focuses on French artist Yves Klein, who was active in the 1950s and 1960s, in addition to some of his contemporaries from the Italian Spatialism and Japanese Gutai movements as well as contemporary artists, highlighting the theme of immateriality that is common to their art. From the tabula rasa of the devastated postwar period, Yves Klein emerged comet-like, an artist in search of a new humanity. By thoroughly promoting a dematerialization of art that does not rely solely on materials and supports, Klein had a profound influence not only on his contemporaries, but also later generations of artists. Today, we are affected by a myriad of “invisible things” such as climate change, viruses, and the confusion created by the information environment of the internet, and are being confronted by many disasters and divisions amidst the uncertainty of not being able to perceive their true nature. The creative explorations into immateriality by Yves Klein and other innovative artists featured in this exhibition promise to provide us with the imagination needed to overcome the uncertainties we face today.
… -
- Upcoming
Collection Exhibition 2 Sea Lane – Connecting to the Islands
2022.11.3(Thu.) - 2023.3.19(Sun.)
With the theme Islands Connecting Okinawa and the Sea, this exhibition focuses on the diversity of the natural and cultural origins of works from the museum’s collection, and from the various regions connected by the sea. The sea has long been a “path” that connects islands to each other, helping to transmit influences between regions. This exhibition presents works that focus on the diversity nurtured on these islands, and influences from other regions owing to the historical background and context associated with the ocean.
… -
- Upcoming
lab.5 ROUTINE RECORDS
2022.10.1(Sat.) - 2023.3.21(Tue.)
The “experimental welfare unit” HERALBONY respects the unique characteristics of each person as “different colors,” proposing new values while delivering them to society in various forms. This time, using the Design Gallery as a base, they will create a place to perceive and think about the accessibility and usability of the museum, where people with physical and mental disabilities can spend a safe and enjoyable time together. Through a six-month program of activities, they seek to connect the people and events that gather and take place there with the local community.
… -
- Upcoming
APERTO 17
SCAN THE WORLD [NEW GAME]
2022.10.1(Sat.) - 2023.3.19(Sun.)
SCAN THE WORLD (STW) is a project to scan the city with a handheld scanner led by two artists, Kenta Ishige (born in Tokyo, 1994) and BIEN (born in Tokyo, 1993). At the same time, STW is also a new and playful street practice. For this exhibition, SCAN THE WORLD will conduct a residency in Kanazawa, proposing a new kind of game that unfolds on the street.
…