Stephan Balkenhol:
Sculptures & Reliefs
Thru Jul 18
 Stephan
Balkenhol (1957~) is one of the leading German sculptors today.
He began,
in the early 80s, by creating wooden sculptures of human forms.
At present, he is internationally active, especially in Europe.
Balkenhol's human sculptures, roughly carved out of wood and then
painted, appear to be ordinary people wearing ordinary clothes.
Along with the ordinary poses and expressions of the sculptures,
the works' pedestals are carved, painted and positioned in the space.
The works do not allow simple interpretation,
but invite instead a comfortable form of reflection. In the context
of present-day art, with its strong abstract tendencies, Balkenhol's
work might at first appear to be an anachronism, but it is in fact
a new type of representational sculpture. Balkenhol's elimination
of the narrative elements which have been a part of traditional
Western sculpture for thousands of years from ancient Egypt to Rodin,
in particular, distinguish his work. This exhibition is the first
time that his work will be given a comprehensive showing in Japan.
From quintessential examples of his early work to more recent reliefs
that indicate a new development in his art, you can sample about
50 of the artist's most impressive sculptures.
The National Museum of Art Osaka
Nearest station: Subway Higobashi (Exit 3)
Open: 10am-4:30pm, closed Monday
Admission: ¥420/¥130/¥70/free
Tel: 06-4860-8600
My Own Wabi Sabi, Nature in Urban Kyoto
• Views of Mount Hiei
Thru Jun 18
Photographer Kate Connell, who has lived in Japan
for two years, will have two exhibitions of her work. The first
is called My Own Wabi Sabi, Nature in Urban Kyoto.
In the photos of mossy old homes, construction
sites, vines, and wilted lotus in ponds, she seeks to create images
that describe the chaos and symmetry of nature mixed in the urban
landscape. “Kyoto is promoted as a beautiful city. My attempts
to find that beauty with my camera have led me to create photos
that show all the concrete, inva-sive plants, disrepair and clutter.
The images describe what is at times the sad but beautiful and humorous
reality that defines my experience in Japan.
” The second, Views of Mount Hiei, is work
that developed out of her attempts to find a clear view of the nearby
mountain, and her recognition that during her daily views from her
neigh-borhood in Iwakura, the mountain was always obscured by city
structures.
"With my eyes and mind, I could see Hiei-zan
clearly, but the camera wouldn't leave out the obstructions; every
pole, power line and roof makes it into the frame. These photogra-phs
are my solution to this dilemma; a different kind of scenic beauty
is revealed through these all inclusive views of the mountain."
So with a nod to woodblock artist Hiroshige's
work 36 Views of Mt. Fuji, she will show her perspectives of Hiei-zan
from the suburban valley below.
Kate Connell has worked as a professional photographer
doing illustrative work and portraits for magazines, books and advertisements
in New York City, Austin, Texas, and Kyoto. In recent years she
has concentrated on photographing nature, especially plants such
as vines that grow within man-made environments. For examples of
her photography, you can take a look at her website: www.kateconnell.com.
Views of Mount Hiei
• Ishida Taiseisha's ICB Gallery Cafe
Nearest station: Marutamachi, Karasuma Subway line (Exit 2)
Open: 11am-8:30pm, closed Sunday
Admission: free
Tel: 075-211-9151
My Own Wabi Sabi, Nature in Urban Kyoto
• Gallery Artislong
Nearest station: Nijo-jo mae,
Subway Tozai-line (Exit 1)
Open: 12pm-7pm, closed Monday
Admission: free
Tel: 075-841-0561
Nomart Projects #03
Jun18 - Jul 9
 Nomart
editions' Young Artist Cultivation and Exhibition Project (Nomart
Projects) is an ongoing project held every other year to discover
“young artists” and to help them to grow. The project
started in the year 2001 with a series of four individual exhibitions
by four different artists with four different themes. Art critic
Minoru Shimizu was curator of the first event. The second Nomart
Projects was an exhibition by 10 artists chosen by critic Miwaki
Yasuo. Nomart Projects #03 will mark the third time this event is
being held. Tsukasa Ikegami, Curator of the Nishimiya City Ohtani
Memorial Museum, was selected to be the curator of this event. As
curator he has chosen two “young artists” to be featured
in this two-part exhibition. The artists will be using both exhibition
areas, CUBE and LOFT. Nobuaki Ohnishi will be the featured artist
for the first exhibition #03_01 and Mayumi Kimura will be featured
in the second #03_02.
Nomart Project Space, Cube and Loft
Young Artist Cultivation and Exhibition Project
Nomart Projects #03_01
An exhibition by Nobuaki Ohnishi
Nearest station: Fukaebashi Station,
Subway Chuo Line (exit 1)
Open: Mon-Fri 11:00-19:00, Sat 13:00-19:00
Close: Sunday • Admission: free
Tel: 06-6967-1354
Kansai Art Listings JUNE
| Osaka
Thru June 26
Graf Media GM
Lilly
London based artist Shiga Rieko's exhibition of photos and
images.
Subway Yotsubashi Higobashi stn.
Open: 12-8pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: free
Tel: 06-6459-2082
Thru June 30
DDD Gallery
2005 TDC Exhibition
Results and works from the Tokyo TDC Award competition, the
most well-known competition in Japan's graphic arts circle.
Subway Nishi-Umeda or Higobashi
Open: 10am-6pm.
Closed Saturday/Sunday/Holiday.
Admission: Free
Tel: 06-6347-8780
Thru July 3
Osaka Nihon Mingeikan
Kinjo Jiro Exhibition
Works by the Ryukyu potter.
Inside Expo '70 Park. Osaka Monorail Banpaku Kinen Koen Stn.
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Wed.
Admission: ¥700/¥450/¥100
Tel: 06-6877-1971
Thru July 3
Suntory Museum, Tempozan
Raymond Savignac
Osaka-ko, Subway Chuo line
Open: 10:30am-7pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥900/¥630/¥450
Tel: 06-6577-0001
June 7 - July 10
Osaka Munincipal Museum of Art
National Treasures of Kohfukuji — From the Temple Revival
of the Kamakura Period
JR/subway Tennoji
Open: 9:30am-4:30pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥1,200/¥1,000
Tel: 06-6771-4874
Thru July 18
Kirin Plaza Osaka
Her Projects — Memories of No One Yurie Nagashima Exhibition
Shinsaibashi stn, Midosuji line.
Open: 11am-9pm.
Admission: free
Tel: 06-6212-6578
Thru September 4
Museum of Oriental Ceramics
Masterpieces of Oriental Ceramics Exhibition from Japan, Korea,
and China.
Yodoyabashi, Midosuji line
Open: 9:30am-4:30pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥500/¥300/free
Tel: 06-6223-0055
Thru September 27
Kokuritsu Minzokugaku Hakubu-tsukan
(Museum of Ethnology)
Street Art in Africa
Over 450 pieces including toys, pos-ters and a reconstructed
coffee shop
Inside Expo '70 Park. Banpaku Kinen Koen, Monorail
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Wed.
Admission: ¥420/¥250/¥110
Tel: 06-6876-2151
Kyoto
June 19-29
Somushi Korean Tea House
Images of Korea The show brought to you by the Kyoto Journal,
will feature work by John Einarsen, Bae Bien-u, Robert Kowalczyk,
and Drayton Hamilton.
Somushi Korean Tea House on Sanjo just west of Karasuma, Kyoto.
Open: 10am-9pm. Closed Wed.
Admission: Free
Tel: 075-253-1456
Thru June 26
Korai Museum
The World of Joseon
Dynasty Pictures
JR Kyoto station, take bus #9 to Kamogawa-Chugakko-mae
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥500/¥400/¥300
Tel: 075-491-1192
Thru July 3
Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Sanso Bijutsukan
Impressionist works displayed from the museum collection
JR Yamazaki/Hankyu Oyamazaki stn.
Open: 10am-4pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥700/¥500/free
Tel: 075-957-3123
Thru July 3
Kyoto National Museum
New Acquisitions
40 newly purchased and three donated artwork on display.
Keihan Shichijo Stn.
Open: 9:30am-5pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥420/¥130
Tel: 075-541-1151
Thru July 24
Hosomi Museum
Art of the Japanese Postcard
Leonard A. Lauder Collection from the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston
Higashiyama, Tozai Subway line, on the corner of Nijo-dori
and the river
Open: 10am-5:30pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥1,000/¥800
Tel: 075-752-5555
Hyogo
Thru June 5
Ashiya Shiritsu Bijutsu Hakubutsukan
Modernism Artists
Hanshin Ashiya stn.
Open: 10am-4pm. Closed Monday
Admission: ¥300/¥300/free
Tel: 0797-38-5432
Thru June 19
Kobe Shiritsu Hakubutsukan
Paintings of Kobe from the Heian Period to now
JR/Hankyu/Hanshin Sannomiya stn.
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Mon Admission: ¥200/¥150/¥100
Tel: 078-391-0035
Thru June 26
Nishinomiya-shi Otani Kinen Bijyutsukan
Fujishiro Seiji Sakura exhibi-tion — Sakura-ga paintings
Koroen stn.
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Wed.
Admission: ¥1,000/¥600/¥300
Tel: 0798-33-0164
Thru July 3
Himeji City Museum of Art
50 works by seven young artists focusing on contemporary art
on nature
JR/Sanyo Himeji, Nr. Himeji Castle
Open: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥700/¥500/¥200
Tel: 0792-22-2288
Thru July 10
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History
"Yoshitsune" The precious treasure of Gen-Ji, Hei-Shi,
and Oshu Fujiwara-Shi
JR/Sanyo Himeji stn.
Open: 10am-4pm. Closed Monday.
Admission: ¥1,000/¥700/free
Tel: 0792-88-9011
Nara
Thru July 10
Nara National Museum
The Buddhist Sculptors of Shukuin (Shukuin Busshi) —
Nara Buddhist Sculptors of the Warring-States Period
Kintetsu Nara, inside Nara Park
Open: 9am-5pm. Closed Monday
Admission: ¥420/¥130/free
Tel: 0742-22-7771
Thru June 26
Nara Museum of Photography
Discovery of Beauty and Mind: Commemorating the 100th anniversary
of photographer Irie Taikichi.
JR/Kintetsu Nara
Open: 9:30am-4pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥500/¥200/¥100
Tel: 0742-22-9811
SHIGA
Thru June 12
Miho Museum
“Shaping the Sacred”
250 pieces of art from Egypt, Greece, Rome, West and Central
Asia, China, Korea and Japan.
From JR Ishiyama stn, take the Teisan bus to the museum.
Open: 10am-4pm. Closed Mon.
Admission: ¥1,000/¥800/¥300
Tel: 0748-82-3411
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ART section compiled by Maki Nibayashi
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