William Morris

Archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel, St Mary’s, King’s Walden, Herts., south aisle window, designed by William Morris, c.1869
Thru May 24

Nishinomiya-shi Otani Kinen Bijutsukan

William Morris (1834-1896) was a committed socialist, medievalist and one of the great pattern designers of his time. Horrified by the increasing mass-production and mechanization in the arts, he wished to reinstate the values of traditional craftsmanship and simplicity of design. His slogan was that art should be “by the people, for the people.” Following these principles, he decorated and furnished his new house with help from Burne-Jones and Rossetti, to name but a few. This led to the establishment of his company, Morris, Marchall, Faulkner & Co. The firm was a group of Fine Artists designing and producing furniture, wallpaper, murals, tapestries, stained glass windows, metalwork, tiles and embroidery. Over 80 of Morris’ works, all of which had a major influence on modern design, will be on display.

Getting there: Hanshin Koroen stn. • Open: 10am – 4:30pm Closed Wed Admission: ¥800/¥600 TEL:0798-33-0164

Hashimoto Kansetsu

Thru Jun 7

Himeji City Museum of Art

MBorn in Kobe in 1883, Hashimoto Kansetsu studied sinology and basic classes at the Shijo School. He then joined Chikujokai, a private school led by Takeuchi Seiho, during which time he actively participated in the Kanten exhibition. He later withdrew from Chikujokai due to differences in opinion. A member of one of the first groups of nihonga painters to travel to Europe, Hashimoto was very much influenced by Western art though he often visited China and produced paintings inspired by Chinese landscapes and Chinese classical literature. He established a unique style by adopting methods from the Shijo, Yamatoe, Kano, Nanga and other schools of art and in his final years produced works of animals considered to be his masterpieces.

Getting there: JR/Sanyo Himeji stn, south of Himeji Castle • Open: 10am – 4:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,000/¥600/¥200 TEL:079-222-2288

Korean Ceramics Cherished by Asakawa Noritaka – Gift of Suzuki Masao

Thru July 20

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

Asakawa Noritaka (1884–1964) is a pioneer in the studies of Korean ceramics, along with his brother Takumi. Even today, his meticulous research based on exhaustive gathering of materials and data still exerts a considerable influence on the studies of Korean ceramics. This exhibition traces Noritaka’s devotion to Korean ceramics by showing those he used himself alongside displays of his original sketches and notes. Most parts of the collection have been donated by Mr. Suzuki Masao, a family member.

Getting there: Keihan Nakanoshima line, Naniwabashi stn. Exit 1 or Subway Midosuji line, Yodoyabashi stn, exit 1. East of Nakanoshima Central Public Hall • Open: 9:30am – 4:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥500/¥300 TEL:06-6223-0055


Hiroshi Sugimoto: History of History

Monju Bosatsu (detail), Kamakura period
(13th century)
Courtesy of Hiroshi Sugimoto

Thru June 7

The National Museum of Art Osaka (Kokuritsu Kokusai Bijutsukan)

Based in New York and Tokyo, Hiroshi Sugimoto (b. 1948) is one of Japan’s leading contemporary photographers. This solo exhibition first debuted in Tokyo in 2003, then went on to tour four cities in North America and has just returned to Japan after six years. This show is a unique investigation into the experience of time and history from Sugimoto’s perspective. The exhibition will feature Sugimoto’s photographs selected from the artist’s well-known series of seascapes, natural history dioramas and wax figures, with an enormous range of traditional Japanese and ritual artifacts drawn from Sugimoto’s private collection. This contrast of past and present adds a new dimension to Sugimoto’s photographs which he himself famously described as “time exposed.”

Getting there: Higobashi stn, exit 2 • Open: 10am–4:30pm • Closed Mon Admission: ¥1,000/¥500 TEL:06-6447-4680

 

Kansai Art Listings May

OSAKA

Kikuchi Tota Exhibition:

Osaka Nikon Salon
Thru May 6
JR/Subway/Hanshin/Hankyu Osaka stn. Hilton Plaza West Office Tower 13F • Open: 11am – 7pm • Admission: Free TEL:06-6348-9698

Incidental Affairs

Suntory Museum
Thru May 10
Subway Chuo line, Osaka-ko stn
Open: 10:30am–7:30pm • Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,000/¥700/
¥500 TEL:06-6577-0001

Kaori Yuzawa: Sleep Syndrome

Graf Media GM
Thru May 17
Subway Yotsubashi line, Higobashi stn
Open: 12 – 8pm Closed Mon Admission: Free TEL:06-6459-2082

“Kosode: Haute couture Kimono of the Edo Period” Exhibition

Osaka Shiritsu Bijutsukan
Thru May 31
JR/Subway Tennoji Stn. • Open: 9:30am – 4:30pm Closed Mon & May 7 • Admission: ¥700/¥450 TEL:06-6771-4874

“When Japan’s Tea Ceremony Artisans Meet Minpaku’s Collections: Creative Art in Perspective”

Museum of Ethnology (Kokuritsu Minzokugaku Hakubutukan)
Thru Jun 2
Osaka Monorail Banpaku Kinen Koen stn. Inside Expo’70 park • Open: 10am – 4:30pm, Closed Wed • Admission: ¥1,200/¥900 • TEL:06-6876-2151

DRAFT Exhibition: Branding and Art Directors

Graf Media GM
Apr 11 – May 17
Subway Yotsubashi line, Higobashi stn
• Open: 12–8pm Closed Mon
Admission: Free • 06-6459-2082

Hiroshi Sugimoto: History of History

Osaka National Museum (Kokuritsu Kokusai Bijutsukan)
Thru Jun 7
Higobashi stn, exit 2 • Open: 10am–4:30pm • Closed Mon Admission: ¥830/¥450 TEL:06-6447-4680

Shotokutaishi Exhibition

Osaka Shiritsu Bijutsukan
Thru Jun 8
JR/Subway Tennoji stn • Open: 9:30 – 4:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,200/ ¥900 TEL:06-6771-4874

Yanagi Soetsu Exhibition: Leader of Mingei (folk crafts) Movement

Osaka Nihon Mingeikan
Thru Jul 12
Osaka Monorail Banpaku Kinen Koen stn. Inside Expo’70 park • Open: 10am – 4:30pm, Closed Wed Admission: ¥700/¥450 TEL:06-6877-1971

Korean Ceramics collected by Asakawa Noritaka

Osaka Shiritsu Toyo Toji Bijutsukan
Thru Jul 20
Keihan/Subway Yodoyabashi Stn. Open: 9:30am – 4:30pm Closed Mon & May 7 • Admission: ¥500/¥300 TEL:06-6223-0055


KYOTO

The Treasures of Myoshojin Temple: Masterpieces of Zen Culture

Kyoto National Museum
Thru May 10
Keihan Shijo stn • Open: 9:30am–5:30pm • Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,300/¥900/¥400 TEL:075-525-2473

Yoshida Katsu Exhibition: Acrylic paintings on washi or canvas

Kahitsukan Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art
Thru May 17
Keihan Shijo/Hankyu Kawaramachi stn. • Open: 10am – 5:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,000/¥800 TEL:075-525-1311

“Napoleon Bonaparte and Italian Art”

Kyoto Bunka Hakubutsukan
Thru May 24
Subway Karasuma-Oike/Hankyu Karasuma stn. • Open: 10am – 5:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,200/¥800/¥500 TEL:075-222-0888

Obidome (Kimono obi brooch) Exhibition

Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Bijutsukan
Thru May 24
City bus No.207 Kiyomizu-michi stop
Open: 10am – 4:30pm Closed Mon/Tue • Admission: ¥500/¥300 TEL:075-532-4270

Special Exhibition on the Manga Artist Sugiura Shigeru: 101 years of his birth

Kyoto Kokusai Manga Museum
Thru May 24
Subway Karasume Oike stn • Open: 1-am – 5:30pm Closed Wed Admission: ¥1,000/¥500/¥200 TEL:075-254-7414

Luxury in Fashion
Reconsidered

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Apr 11 – May 24
JR/Kintetsu Kyoto stn or Hankyu/Keihan Karasuma stn, take Kyoto city bus 35 to Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan-mae • Open: 9:30am–5pm • Closed Mon
• Admission: ¥1,200/¥800
• 075-761-4111

Ceramicist Hamada Shoji Exhibition:

Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Sanso Bijutsukan
Thru Jun 7
JR Yamazaki/Hankyu Oyamazakis stn
Open: 10am–4:30pm • Closed Mon
Admission: ¥700/500/free for children • 075-957-3123

Ceramics Collection Exhibition

Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art (Kyoto-shi Bijutsukan)
Thru Jun 15
City bus #5, Kyotokaikan & Bijutsukan-mae stop • Open: 9:30am–4:30pm
• Closed Mon • Admission: ¥200
• 075-771-4107


HYOGO

The Essence of Kyushu Ancient Ceramics: The Elaborate Collection of Tanakamaru

Hyogo Togei Bijutsukan
Thru May 24
JR Fukuchiyama line, Aino stn. Bus bound for the museum • Open: 10am – 6:30pm Closed Mon & May 7 Admission: ¥900/700 TEL:079-597-3961

Masterpiecies of Kunstsammlung Nordrehein-Westfalen-23 Reknowon Artists who Reprent the 20th Century

Hyogo Kenritsu Bijutsukan
Thru May 31
Hanshin Iwaya stn. • Open: 10am – 5:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,300/¥900/¥500 TEL:078-262-0901

Kobe-born artists Ishizaka Haruo and Tanaka Tokuki Exhibition

Kobe Yukari no Bijutsukan
Thru May 31
Rokko Liner, Island Center stn. Kobe Fashion Museum 1F • Open: 10am – 5:30pm Closed Wed/Apr 30/May 7 • Admission: ¥200/¥100 TEL:078-858-1520

Portraits of Bacchants in Prints: Paris & London

Itami Shiritsu Bijutsukan
Thru Jun 14
JR/Hankyu Itami stn • Open: 10am – 5:30pm Closed Mon & May 7 • Admission: ¥500/¥250 TEL:0727-72-7447

Nara

Ganjinwajo: National Treasures from the Tenpyo Period

Nara National Museum
Apr 4 – May 24
Kintetsu Nara stn. Inside Nara Park
Open: 9:30am–5pm • Closed Mon
Admission: ¥1,200/¥800/¥500 • 0742-22-7771

Dolls Exhibiton

Nara Kenritsu Bijutsukan
Thru May 24
Kintetsu Nara stn • Open: 9am – 4:30pm Closed Mon • Admission: ¥400/¥250/¥150 TEL:0742-23-3968

If you also want to include your art exhibition, email us before the first day of the month at editor@kansaiscene.com,
 
 

ART section compiled by Maki Nibayashi

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