Permanent Collection 4th term 2023

　
Since old time, the artists' own faces and bodies have been common subjects of art, and many artists have portrayed themselves in artworks. Self-portraits, however, are not always mere representation of the appearance of the artists.

Tomoaki Ishihara and Ryoji Koie depict themselves in their works, in pursuit of the answer to the question of what art is. Ishihara’s work, Engagement II, consists of three 3D canvases printed with blurred nude self-portrait photographs, which are arranged against a huge paper background. In this exhibition, this artwork will be presented in the same way as it was originally exhibited in 1984, with an additional canvas work that was donated to Takamatsu Art Museum.

Atsuro Terunuma and Erina Matsui use their identities and their private lives as the starting points of their artworks. Terunuma depicts his alter-ego character "Mieteru Nozomu-kun" and his counterpart "Mienai Nozomi-chan" in his works, while Matsui depicts the environments around her on the background of her own funny face. Meanwhile, the works of Yasumasa Morimura and Duck-Jun Kwak, at a glance, seem to be forming one image from the portraits of the artists themselves and others, but they are simultaneously visualizing a relationship with others that cannot be fully engaged.

This exhibition features works in which the artists used their own selves as motifs from their individual perspectives. One could say that these works represent the artists' inner selves, and the environments surrounding them, as well as questioning what it means to express through their artworks.

Image：Erina Matsui《Everyday is Judgement Day》2020,ⒸErina Matsui Courtesy of ANOMALY

　
Incense cases are small containers for holding incense, which are a kind of tea ceremony tool. They may seem to be small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, however, a wide variety of different worlds are expressed through them - from a gentle scene with a mantis attracted to blooming flowers and looking toward the viewers, as seen in the “Incense Case, Kokaryokuyo” by Keido Ishii, to a majestic landscape capturing Mt. Sanuki-Fuji in cloud, as seen in the “Incense Case with Mt. Hanzan Design” by Yoshisugu Takagi.

These tiny cases are also showcasing the outstanding craftsmanship of artisans. Joshin Isoi, who was recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property, skillfully carved out even the fine texture of bamboo shoot skins, as seen in the “Incense Case, 'Dainties of Fields and Mountains', Tsuikoku”. His other work, the “Incense Case with Dragonfly design” also highlights his incomparable carving skills in a swarm of dragonflies. The “Incense Case, ‘Matsugaura’, Tsuikoku in Sanuki Relief”, created by Zokoku Tamakaji also are exhibited. Tamakaji is known as the founder of Sanuki lacquer art, and this particular work was copied by many lacquer artists who were trying to learn his skills in later days. These works are present along with the copied works by Kanzan Takahashi and Kado Kamada in this exhibition.

We present a total of 100 incense cases owned by the Takamatsu Art Museum. These tiny incense cases are full of refined tastes and excellent skills of artists, as well as a sense of fun. We hope you enjoy the exhibition.

Image：Keido Ishii《Incense Case，Kokaryokuyo》1931,photo by Akira Takahashi