CONTACT: Connecting and Binding — Art of Japan and the World
For eight days from Sunday, September 1 to Sunday, September 8, 2019, in commemoration of the ICOM (International Council of Museums) Kyoto General Conference, the exhibition “CONTACT: Connecting and Binding — Art of Japan and the World” will be held under the theme of the points of contact between Japanese and international art.
The venue is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera. For the first time in its 1,200-year history, the temple will host an exhibition bringing together works that transcend genres — Western modern painting, contemporary art, literature, manga, and film. Visitors can enjoy the exhibits along with the magnificent garden (normally closed to the public) designed by Kobori Enshu.
Additionally, novelist Maha Harada, who serves as the exhibition’s general director, has written a novel titled “20 CONTACTS: Brief Encounters with the Undying Stars,” inspired by this exhibition and published by Gentosha. At the exhibition, a free tabloid featuring Maha Harada’s commentary on all works and excerpts from the novel will be distributed.
Enjoy this luxurious, eight-day-only exhibition where you can encounter masterpieces in a special space, novel in hand.
Highlights of the Exhibition
1. Japanese and international art influencing each other, gathering across genres
Japanese and international art have long shared points of contact, stimulating and influencing one another.
By presenting works together — from foreign artists who actively engaged with Japan, such as Paul Cezanne, who discovered new modes of expression through Japanese art; Genichiro Inokuma, who studied under Matisse in the South of France; Alberto Giacometti, who had deep exchanges with philosopher Isaku Yanaihara; and Gerhard Richter, who has held solo exhibitions in Japan for more than a quarter-century — alongside Japanese artists who have been internationally active, the exhibition explores how Japanese and international art have converged. Beyond fine art, the show also features unique cross-genre displays spanning literature, manga, and film.
Izumi Kato, Untitled, 2019 (specially created for this exhibition), cloth, leather, acrylic paint, pastel, stainless steel, aluminum, iron, embroidery, stone, lithograph ©️2019 Izumi Kato
“Reich Richter Part” installation view, The Shed (2019, New York)
Genichiro Inokuma, Untitled, c. 1948-49, oil on board [part of a triptych], private collection ©MIMOCA Foundation
Michael Borremans, Gardenia (2), 2014, ink on washi / hanging scroll, private collection ©Michaël Borremans
[Top] Yasunari Kawabata, “The Magpie,” 1963 [Bottom] Kaii Higashiyama, Untitled, 1963, private collection
2. The first-ever exhibition of Western modern paintings and contemporary art installations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera
The venue itself is a cultural treasure representative of Japan — the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera. Temples have long housed court painters and commissioned and presented their works, giving them a long history as patrons of art — in a sense, the origin of the museum in Japan — making this venue especially fitting for an exhibition commemorating the ICOM Kyoto General Conference.
Both the display of works against the beautiful garden of Jojuin (normally closed to the public), and the presentation of Gerhard Richter’s video piece in the Kyodo (Sutra Repository) will provide visitors with a special viewing experience. Furthermore, an installation by contemporary artist Izumi Kato will be shown in the free-access zones (viewable without a ticket) at the front-entrance Important Cultural Property Nishi-mon (West Gate) — one of Japan’s top Instagram spots — and Umatodome, offering visitors from around the world who visit Kiyomizu-dera an opportunity to encounter art.
*About the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera
Said to have been founded during the Heian period by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, seii taishogun (great general who subdues barbarians). The precincts feature more than 30 halls and monuments, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, many of which were rebuilt in the early Edo period by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. The main hall is affectionately known as the “Stage of Kiyomizu,” and the view from the stage is spectacular. It was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994.
3. The organizer and general director is novelist Maha Harada — A related novel, "20 CONTACTS: Brief Encounters with the Undying Stars," released alongside the exhibition
This exhibition was conceived by novelist Maha Harada, who has a background as a curator, resonating with the founding mission of ICOM — established after World War II — to reunite a world divided by war through museums. As an initiator, she serves as general director of the project, timed to coincide with the ICOM Kyoto General Conference.
The exhibition was born of a desire to make ICOM more widely known to the general public, and, at the same time, to introduce the 3,000 museum specialists gathering from around the world to the wonderful museums throughout Japan and the many masterpieces held within them.
At the venue, Maha Harada’s commentary on all works, along with excerpts from her short novel “20 CONTACTS: Brief Encounters with the Undying Stars” (scheduled for release in August by Gentosha), will be printed in a tabloid and distributed for free. Enjoy the special experience of viewing the exhibited works with the novel in hand.
Georges Salles, the head of the French negotiating team who appears in her recent novel “The Tableau of Beautiful Fools,” was also the second president of ICOM.
4. Talk event "CONTACT.ALK: Connecting Japan and the World via Art," welcoming a diverse lineup of guests
During the exhibition period, at the Daikodo (Great Lecture Hall) of Kiyomizu-dera, exhibition general director Maha Harada will host the talk event “CONTACT.ALK: Connecting Japan and the World via Art,” welcoming a diverse lineup of guests including Naoto Takenaka (actor), Yoji Yamada (film director), and Nanko Katsura (rakugoka). *Speakers listed in order of appearance.
Talk Event Program *Titles subject to change.
Monday, September 2, 16:00~ (doors open 15:30)
“CONTACT ARTISTS: If I Were to Visit Van Gogh — Theater, Novels, and the Search for Art”
Speakers: Naoto Takenaka (actor) / Maha Harada
Wednesday, September 4, 16:00~ (doors open 15:30)
“CONTACT STARS: Communicating with the Stars — What Connects Japanese and World Cinema”
Speakers: Yoji Yamada (film director) / Maha Harada
Friday, September 6, 14:30~ (doors open 14:00)
“CONTACT SMILES: Man, I Really Love Art! Nanko and Maha’s Passionate Art Talk”
Speakers: Nanko Katsura (rakugoka) / Maha Harada
Saturday, September 7, 14:00~ (doors open 13:30)
“CONTACT BIZ. The Age of Art Business — Business Leaders Are in Art Museums”
Speakers: Hisashi Mitachi (former Japan representative of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Senior Partner & Managing Director, trustee of Ohara Museum of Art) / Maha Harada
Venue: Kiyomizu-dera Daikodo (Great Lecture Hall)
Ticket price: 3,500 yen per session / Combined ticket with exhibition 5,000 yen
Advance tickets: Available from Thursday, July 4, via the official website (link)
On sale at “Ticket Pia” from Saturday, July 13
Overview
“CONTACT: Connecting and Binding — Art of Japan and the World”
Dates: Sunday, September 1 – Sunday, September 8, 2019 *Open every day during the exhibition
Hours: 7:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00)
Venue: Kiyomizu-dera (1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto), Jojuin, Kyodo (Sutra Repository), Nishi-mon (West Gate), Umatodome
Admission: Adults 1,800 yen; children (elementary school age and below) free
*Morning ticket (entry 7:00–9:00): Adults 1,600 yen; children (elementary school age and below) free
*Combined ticket with talk events: 5,000 yen
Organized by: “CONTACT/CONNECT Exhibition” Executive Committee, The Kyoto Shimbun, BS Nittele, anonyme
Supported by: ICOM Kyoto 2019 Organizing Committee, Kyoto Buddhist Federation, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto City Board of Education
Cooperation: Kiyomizu-dera, Kiyomizu-dera Monzen-kai, Sanrakuen, MBS, Gallery Koyanagi, Perrotin, Office Marine Co., Ltd.
Grant: Agency for Cultural Affairs 2019 “Innovation-type Project” for Cultural Resource Content Creation Commemorating Japan Cultural Expo
