Matazo Kayama
Matazo Kayama built a distinctive style of Nihonga (Japanese-style painting), incorporating a wide range of methods alongside traditional techniques. Born in Kyoto in 1927, he grew up in a family in which his grandfather was a painter of the Shijo-Maruyama school and his father a textile-dyeing designer in Nishijin, and he graduated from Tokyo Fine Arts University (now Tokyo University of the Arts). He was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 1997 and received the Order of Culture in 2003, and he went on painting Nihonga energetically until his death in 2004. Solo exhibitions of his work have been held not only in Japan but around the world — in Paris, London, Beijing, Shanghai and beyond — earning him an international reputation.
Re-Matazo MATAZO KAYAMA
“Re-Matazo MATAZO KAYAMA” is an exhibition in which contemporary creators “recreate” the works of Matazo Kayama. The venue is EBiS303, an event hall in Ebisu.
This time I attended the press preview held at the opening, so I would like to introduce each of the “four highlights” that struck me.
https://youtu.be/KXTQ0TbJWeM
(1) A joy to watch
The two-dimensional works and video pieces, enhanced with clever gimmicks by the creators, are well made and fun, and because Matazo Kayama’s original works — not merely digital art — are also on display, the exhibition has real depth.
The Firebird
4K footage is projected onto the LED panels, and the work slowly moves as if it were a moving image.
Fix your gaze on it and the slowly shifting piece captivates you; a trip-like sensation washes over you until, for a moment, your own senses seem to grow numb.
(2) A joy to touch
Art you can touch — what a striking approach. There was a setup that let you enjoy the ceramic-panel works by touching them.
The photo below shows a work painted onto a ceramic panel. The plan came about from a wish to let visitors enjoy the texture of the paint.
Everyone kept touching and touching…
The ceramic-panel works were apparently realized through a collaboration with a certain company.
(3) A joy to hear
There is a space where you can view works on a giant LED screen, and ultra-directional speakers are built in, so there are sounds you can hear only from a certain spot. This is quite fun, so do try to find the “listening points”!
The “ultra-directional speakers” were installed up above.
The footage on the giant LED monitor was cool and nice, too!
(4) A joy to photograph
At the “Re-Matazo” exhibition, photography is free as long as you use a smartphone! There are plenty of photo spots, so you can post to social media all you like.
Summary
“Re-Matazo” is an exhibition full of things you can only experience by going in person. If you are interested, it is a highly recommended show that I would love you to visit. It felt like one of the best exhibitions of the year!
