Kumagai Morikazu (1880-1977) is widely recognized for a style that is distinguished by bright colors and distinct forms. His later works, depicting familiar living things like flowers, insects, and birds, are especially loved by people of all ages.
 
  At first sight, these works look humorous and seem to have been created with great ease. But in tracing back Kumagai’s over 70-year career, it becomes clear that he actually experimented with many different approaches, making paintings to see how things could be seen in the dark and developing a process to use the same design in multiple works. The reason Kumagai’s flowers and birds have such a lifelike appearance is due to the artist’s ingenuous means of dealing with color and form. Concealed within his works are an observational ability akin to that of a scientist and an elaborate production method.

  This retrospective, the first to be held in Tokyo in many years, sheds light on the artist’s creative process with more than 200 paintings, sketches, diaries, and documents.

  During his long 97-year life, which began in the Meiji Period and continued late into the Showa Period, Kumagai experienced a variety of hardships including poverty and deaths in the family. Yet he single-mindedly devoted himself to his work and, even at the age of 95, said, “I hope to live forever.” Don’t miss your chance to visit Kumagai Morikazu’s remarkable world of art this winter.

Hours & Admissions

Location

Art Museum Special Exhibition Gallery

Date

December 1, 2017 – March 21, 2018

Time

10:00-17:00 ( Fridays and Saturdays open until 20:00 )
*Last admission : 30 minutes before closing.

Closed

Mondays ( except January 8 and February 12, 2018 ) ;
December 28, 2017–January 1, 2018;
January 9 and February 13, 2018

Admission

Day ticket ( Group of 20 persons or more )
Adults: ¥1,400 ( 1,000 )
College / University students: ¥900 ( 600 )
High school students: ¥400 ( 200 )

Advance ticket
* Advance ticket sales period: from October 2, until November 30, 2017
Adults: ¥1,200
**Pair ticket: ¥2,000
College / University students: ¥800
High school students: ¥300

* Including the admission fee for MOMAT Collection.
*The price in brackets is for the group of 20 persons or more.
*All prices include tax.
*Junior High school age and under are free of charge.
*Persons with disability and one person accompanying them are admitted free of charge.

Organizer

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Nikkei Inc.
TV TOKYO Corporation