At the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, from November 16th (Thursday) to January 8th, 2024 (Monday / holiday), Ueno Artist Project 2023
"Transferring Life – Fungi, Plants, Animals, Humans" and Collection Exhibition "At the Zoo – Focusing on the Tokyo Collection" will be held.
In "Transferring Life – Fungi, Plants, Animals, Humans", we introduce six creators who have been working on "transferring" living things in the natural world other than humans. The subjects of animals and plants are very popular in creative and expression activities, but this time, we will focus on the works that form an inseparable relationship with specific living things, and have maintained a high level of enthusiasm over several decades. These are the creators who have/continue to follow their figure.
Michiko Kobayashi has been fascinated by wild mushrooms through a chance encounter, and has continued to search for and draw mushrooms that inhabit various lands. While active in the art world from the end of the Meiji period to the Showa period, Tsujiaga had a love of flowers and plants since he was a boy, and continued to draw and record them every day. Haruo Uchiyama opened up the world of bird carving in Japan with his skill that he trained as a wood inlay craftsman. After bursting into the post-war photography world with his poetic and experimental style, Hisae Imai devoted the latter half of his life to photographing thoroughbreds. Miho Tomita , who was fascinated by the cows she met on a ranch while she was in college, continues to engrave the existence of cows in woodblock prints while working on a dairy farm. Tomoaki Abe has been chasing gorillas living in zoos around the world and in the wild of Africa, exchanging hearts, and writing them down.
What did each of the creators look for in earnestly pursuing a single theme, copying, drawing, and modeling their figures? In this exhibition, we would like to think about the future in which we humans live together with other creatures, while facing the various ways of contact with others that unfold in the process of "Utsusu".
In addition, in this exhibition, some of the works and tactile tools will be exhibited so that people with visual impairments can enjoy the works.
*"Ueno Artist Project" is an exhibition series that actively introduces artists involved in public exhibitions in order to inherit the history of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, which is also called the "hometown of public exhibitions" and to develop into the future. Each year, we hold a different theme.
◆ Highlights of the exhibition
1 Tracing the gaze of several decades
Through the exhibited works, we trace the trajectory of the gaze of the creators who have been chasing a single living thing for more than several decades. Please enjoy works with profound charm that can only be created by continuing to devote yourself to specific motifs.
2 Transmitted = Recorded Creatures
The works created from the attitude of observing the subject and realistically reproducing its appearance are not only the expression of the creators, but also have an academic meaning as a record of each individual. Please enjoy the natural appearance of living creatures inhabiting the natural world from the perspective of natural science.
3 Touch and appreciate
In this exhibition, about 40 “touch carving” bird sculptures developed by Haruo Uchiyama for the visually impaired will be exhibited, as well as works that can be appreciated by touching and “tactile observation” tools. Anyone with or without a disability can experience tactile appreciation.
◆ Introduction of exhibiting artists (in Japanese syllabary order)
■ ABE Chisato
Born in Kochi Prefecture in 1957. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts in 1982. In the mid-1980s, he began chasing gorillas kept in zoos and other facilities throughout Japan. Since then, he has continued to visit and draw gorillas in various places, including zoos around the world and Africa where wild gorillas live. Currently a member of the Ichiyokai Steering Committee.
■ Hisae Imai IMAI Hisae
Born in Tokyo in 1931. Starting with his first solo exhibition in 1956, he has been active in a wide range of fields such as fashion photography and advertising photography in parallel with his artistic activities. After recovering from a temporary loss of eyesight after being injured in a traffic accident, he began to take an interest in horses, and from 1970 onwards focused on researching and photographing racehorses. Passed away in 2009.
■ UCHIYAMA Haruo
Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1950. After studying hard as a wood inlay artist, in 1980 he started making bird carvings at the request of the Japan Bird Conservation Federation. Since then, we have worked to spread the technology and use it to protect birds. Currently, Chairman of the Japan Bird Carving Association.
■ KOBAYASHI Michiko
Born in Tokyo. From 1979 to 1986, he was a member of the Jiyu Bijutsu Kyokai. Takeshi Mori edited "The Mystery of Kinoko" (Kobunsha, 1986), where he was in charge of illustrations. , continued to draw.
TSUJI Hisashi
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1884. Raised in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. After graduating from the Western painting department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, he was active in the art world as a painter who mainly painted landscapes, and served as chairman of the Nitten and Kofukai. On the other hand, he loved plants deeply from his boyhood and continued to draw plants every day until his last years. Died in 1974.
■ TOMITA Miho
Born in Tokyo in 1979. 2004 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Oil Painting, Printmaking Course. He was fascinated by the existence of cows that he encountered while working part-time at a dairy farm while in school.
◆Overview
■Exhibition name: Ueno Artist Project 2023 “Transferring Life – Fungi, Plants, Animals, Humans”
(Ueno Artist Project 2023: Picturing and Touching the Lives of Others—Fungi, Plants, Animals and Humans)
Exhibition period: November 16, 2023 (Thursday) to January 8, 2024 (Monday / holiday)
■Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery A/C
Closed: November 20 (Mon), December 4 (Mon), December 18 (Mon), December 21 (Thursday) – January 3, 2024 (Wednesday)
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30, 11/17 (Fri), 11/24 (Fri), 12/1 (Fri), 12/8 (Fri) 9:30-20:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing)
Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for seniors over 65, free for students and younger
*Admission is free for those who have a physical disability certificate, love certificate, rehabilitation certificate, mental disability certificate, or atomic bomb victim health certificate, and one accompanying person. please
* Free for elementary, junior high, and high school students in Tokyo, as well as those who are equivalent to these, and their teachers, when viewing as a school educational activity (prior application required)
* Free admission with a ticket to the special exhibition "Eternal City of Rome" held at the same time
■Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture
■ Exhibition website: https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2023_uenoartistproject.html
■ Contact: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum 03-3823-6921
[Simultaneous holding] Collection exhibition "At the zoo – Focusing on the Tokyo collection"
What kind of place is a “zoo” for us humans? What do people want when they go there, and what do they get when they leave?
The facility for breeding and exhibiting various animals that is popularly known as the "Zoological Garden" was born in Europe at the end of the 18th century. The zoo was opened. Since then, zoos have been opened one after another in various parts of the world, and even today, they continue to invite many visitors, while their nature has changed little by little with the times.
This exhibition mainly focuses on Japan's oldest "zoo", Ueno Zoo, which is adjacent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. We will exhibit related works and materials.
We hope that this exhibition will serve as an opportunity to reconsider the relationship between humans and animals in the space of modern zoos as we visit various fragments of memories related to zoos.
◆ Main exhibited works
◆Overview
■Exhibition name: At the zoo – Focusing on the Tokyo collection
(At the Zoo — From the Tokyo Metropolitan Collection and Other Collections)
Exhibition period: November 16, 2023 (Thursday) to January 8, 2024 (Monday / holiday)
■Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery B
Closed: November 20 (Mon), December 4 (Mon), December 18 (Mon), December 21 (Thursday) – January 3, 2024 (Wednesday)
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30, 11/17 (Fri), 11/24 (Fri), 12/1 (Fri), 12/8 (Fri) 9:30-20:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing)
■ Viewing fee: Free
■ Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
■Collaboration: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art
■ Exhibition website: https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2023_collection.html
■ Contact: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum 03-3823-6921
◆ “Transfer Life” / “At the Zoo” Related Projects
*Contents are subject to change.
*Please check here for details, the latest information, and how to apply (scheduled to be posted in mid-August).
https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2023_uenoartistproject.html
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■ Talk
Venue: Auditorium, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Capacity: 200 people per session
*All events are free of charge and must be booked in advance.
*Applications are scheduled to start accepting applications in early October.
1) Cows and humans
Saturday, November 18, 14:00-16:00
Hideki Endo (Professor, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo) × Miho Tomita (Artist exhibiting at the "Transfer Life" Exhibition)
2) Animals that made zoo history
November 25th (Sat) 10:30-12:00
Teruyuki Komiya (former director of Ueno Zoo)
3) Zoos and Humans
November 26 (Sun) 13:30-16:00
Masashi Kohara (Associate Professor, Tokyo Polytechnic University) × Atsushi Matsumoto (Sponsor of NPO corporation remo/AHA!)
4) About the beginning of the zoo
December 2 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Naoyuki Kinoshita (Director, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Specially Appointed Professor, Kanagawa University)
5) Touch and know bird carving
December 10 (Sun) 14:00-15:30
Haruo Uchiyama (Exhibiting artist at the "Transfer Life" Exhibition)
6) Seeing and learning about gorillas
December 16 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Juichi Yamagiwa (Director, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature) x Tomoaki Abe (Artist exhibiting at the "Transfer Life" Exhibition)
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■ Workshop
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Studio
*1 and 2 are free of charge, and 3 requires a same-day ticket for the “Transferring Life” exhibition.
*Advance reservations required
*Applications are scheduled to start accepting applications in early October.
1) 8mm Film Appreciation Party: Reflecting the Zoo
November 23 (Thursday/holiday) 14:00-16:00
Facilitator: Atsushi Matsumoto (Sponsor of NPO remo/AHA!)
Cooperation: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Setagaya Cultural Foundation Seikatsu Kobo
Capacity: 15 people
2) Touch carving experience
December 8 (Friday) 14:00-15:00
December 19 (Tue) 14:00-15:00
Lecturer: Haruo Uchiyama (Artist exhibiting at the "Transfer Life" Exhibition)
Capacity: 10 people each time
3) Dance Well
December 6 (Wednesday) 10:30-12:00/14:00-15:30
Instructors: Momoko Shirakami (choreographer, director, "Momonga Complex", dance well instructor), Ayumi Nagasawa (dance artist, dance well instructor)
Capacity: 20 people each time
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■ Documentary film screening (double feature)
"Zoo Diary" (Iwanami Productions, 1957, 74 minutes)
"Tree Ring Secret Series No.15 Stuffed" (Iwanami Films, 1959, 17 minutes)
Venue: Auditorium, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Capacity: 200 people per session *Free entry, first-come, first-served basis
Cooperation: Documentary Film Preservation Center
November 19th (Sun) 14:00-
Friday, November 24, 17:30-
December 3 (Sun) 14:00-
January 6 (Sat) 14:00-
January 8 (Mon/Holiday) 14:00-
