Permanent Collection 1st term 2020

Particularly popular in the animal kingdom, cats are the theme of this year’s first special exhibition: Meow!—Cats Walk in the World of Picture Books. At this permanent exhibition as well, you can enjoy the diversity and richness of artistic expression through animals that have appeared in art.

Speaking of cats, they were a favorite motif of Genichiro Inokuma, though what we see depicted in Inokuma’s work here at the museum is a bird, perched on the shoulder of a young girl. The piece was made during his stay in France before the war, and shows the pronounced influence of Matisse. Kazu Wakita, who had been close to Inokuma, was comforted by a small bird in a cage gifted to him by a friend while he was sick in bed, and came to be called “the bird painter.” Tetsumi Kudo’s 《Mother Complex Paradise》, while also taking up the idea of “birds,” gives a completely different impression. Besides cats, dogs are another very popular animal. Yusuke Asai’s 《Blue Dog》, created from a great amount of masking tape, is covered in patterns from head to tail. Then, Atsuhiko Misawa’s bull terrier, with its characteristic chisel marks, has spots on its abdomen and eyes; the figures of both dogs are humorous and lovable.

In addition to real-life animals like elephants, lions, wolves, horses, goats, and mice, you can also see the imaginary kirin at the exhibition hall. Please enjoy 24 artists’ diverse worlds of imagination through these animals.

Since long ago, humans have dreamt of flying. Connecting the heavens and the earth, birds have been objects of worship and admiration, and as something familiar, can be seen in Arts and crafts to taken on various forms according to challenging techniques and the aesthetic sense of the time.

The fenghuang (phoenix) of Chinese legend has been expressed by Ransai Fujikawa with the zonsei technique, and by Chikusen Sasa with sanuki-bori. Similarly, Keido Ishii engraved the magpie, which in China is said to be an auspicious bird that brings good tidings for the future. In addition, Joshin Isoi, recognized as a Living National Treasure for the kinma technique, demonstrated his versatility by carving cranes and pheasants into incense boxes, and by using the technique of choshitsu to express five birds chirping happily. Besides these, you can also see the prominent sense of flight in Jitsuya Manago’s sabi-urushi herons, as well as other lacquer artists’ sparrows, owls, turkeys and wild geese.

Additionally, Masami Isoi, son of Joshin Isoi, has produced work featuring butterflies using the kinma technique. The butterflies, combined with plants, are lovely and dignified, at times inviting us to a mysterious scene. In contrast, the frolicking butterflies expressed with kokibori-kinma in Bokkei Akashi’s three modern panels are surrounded by a bright and open atmosphere.

Please enjoy 28 works of lacquerware by 12 artists, with the motif of birds and butterflies flying together.

Period：
April 7(Tue.)-June 21(Sun.),2020
　　
Venue：
Permanent Collection Gallery
　　
Closed：
Monday(the following weekday if Monday is a holiday)
　　
Hours：
Tuseday - Saturday & Holidays: 9:30 - 17:00 (Entry until 16:30)
*Until 19:00 during special exhibitions on Friday and Saturday.
*Last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing.
　　
Organized by:
TAKAMATSU ART MUSEUM
　　
Admission：
【General 】200yen（160yen)
【University students】150yen (120yen)
【High school age or younger／ Seniors 65+】Admission free
※Advance Purchase and Groups of 20 or More Get Discounts (pricing in parenthesis)
※Free admission for those with a physical disability certificate, rehabilitation certificate, or mental disability certificate.
　　
Telephone Inquiry
Takamatsu Art Museum
TEL +81-87-823-1711