[Special Exhibition] "The Creation of Masterpieces – Connecting Japanese Art" @ Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum

April 21, 2018. On a day struck by unseasonable heat, I paid a visit to the Tokyo National Museum.

Heiseikan

The exhibition I had come to see was “The Creation of Masterpieces – Connecting Japanese Art,” held in the Heiseikan. Planned to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Kokka, this special exhibition is a major-league show lined with National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, and more.

“The Creation of Masterpieces – Connecting Japanese Art”

Rather than displaying the works period by period, this exhibition presents in an easy-to-understand way how each artist and work carried forward the currents of the past into the next era within the history of art.

Around 130 works, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, are gathered and introduced across 12 themes that focus on the “connections” between the works — their mutual influences and shared social backgrounds. It can be enjoyed both as an occasion to appreciate art more deeply and as an introduction to Japanese art.

The audio guide was narrated by Danmitsu, and surprisingly it was well received by the silver generation.

As for the display, it carried real gravitas — from the wooden Buddhist statues at the very start, “spectacular” is the only word. Photography was not allowed, so I can’t share the details, but this is simply irresistible for art fans.

For this writer, the area with Tohaku Hasegawa’s Pine Trees screen was the most moving, but it was fascinating how each connection formed a single continuous thread.

The finale was a work by Ryusei Kishida.

I came to understand that even the Portrait of Reiko was a work born within the flow of history (I hadn’t known that…).

“Road Cut Through a Hill” was also intriguing to view, set in contrast with Hokusai Katsushika’s “Ushigafuchi at Kudan (Edo period).”

http://image.tnm.jp/image/1024/C0055408.jpg

Ah, thoroughly satisfying. It should appeal to beginners and enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended!

See the list of exhibited works here