Exhibitions

Past Exhibition Special Exhibition

Secrets of National Important Cultural Properties:
An Exhibition Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Date

Location

Special Exhibition Gallery (1st floor)

About the Exhibition

Opened in December 1952, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2022 with a splendid exhibition presenting paintings, sculptures, and crafts that were produced in and after the Meiji period (1868–1912). All the exhibits are designated by the Japanese government as National Important Cultural Properties. It is, however, more than a show featuring excellent works. Many of the works now highly recognized as masterpieces were at first succès de scandale that introduced unprecedent styles. This exhibition also explores secrets in art history—changes in recognition of those works and how they have come to be designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

This show offers a valuable opportunity to view many National Important Cultural Properties because they are shown or loaned not very often considering conservation issues. The masterpieces will enable you to rediscover the charm of modern Japanese art.

展覧会ポスター

About National Important Cultural Properties

National Important Cultural Properties are tangible cultural heritage such as buildings, art and craft works, and archaeological materials in Japan that are designated as being important in the cultural history of Japan by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. The best of these are designated as “National Treasures.”

Highlights

For the first time ever, an exhibition consisting solely of National Important Cultural Properties

Featuring paintings, sculptures, and crafts produced in and after the Meiji period (1868–1912), this will be the first exhibition consisting solely of National Important Cultural Properties. As of November 2022, sixty-eight paintings, sculptures, and crafts from the period onward have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties, but there are no National Treasures yet. This exhibition presents fifty-one works of them.

How some succès de scandale were turned into masterpieces: Modern history of Japanese art emerging through the history of designation

It was in 1955 that modern works were designated National Important Cultural Properties for the first time. When we look into when and what was designated since then, it appears that the points of evaluation have changed gradually. This probably reflects the deepening of research into the history of modern Japanese art.

Presents all the seventeen National Important Cultural Properties in the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

While the Art Will Thrill You exhibition celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of our museum ten years ago presented thirteen National Important Cultural Properties including deposited works, Secrets of Important Cultural Properties presents for the first time all the seventeen National Important Cultural Properties including newly designated works and Suzuki Chokichi’s Twelve Hawks from the collection of the National Crafts Museum. (Some works will be replaced during the exhibition.)

 Some works will be replaced during the exhibition period.

Exhibition Catalogue

3,300JPY (tax included) / 303×231 mm, hard cover, 280 pages
Japanese and English

Contents

“Secrets” about the “Designation” of National Important Cultural Properties | Otani Shogo

1 Nihonga (Japanese-Style Paintings)
2 Yoga (Western-Style Paintings)
3 Sculptures
4 Crafts

Reference Plates

List of Works

List of Reference Plates

Installation images

Hours & Admissions

Location

Special Exhibition Gallery (1st floor)

Date

March 17—May 14, 2023

Closed

Mondays (except March 27, May 1 and 8)

Time

9:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays open until 8:00 p.m.)

  • Last admission: 30 minutes before closing.
  • MOMAT Collection opens at 10:00 a.m.

Opening hours will be extended until 8:00 p.m. on the following days. (Last admission 7:30 p.m.)

May 2—7, May 9—14

Opening hours on May 8 will be until 5:00 p.m. (Last admission 4:30 p.m.)

Admission

Adults ¥1,800 (¥1,600)
College/University students ¥1,200 (¥1,000)
High School students ¥700 (¥500)

  • All prices include tax.
  • Admission in the parentheses is for groups of 20 persons or more.
  • Admission is free for Junior High School students, under 15, and those with Disability Certificates and one caregiver accompanying each of them. Please present ID at the entrance.
  • Including the admission fee for MOMAT Collection.
Organized by

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The Mainichi Newspapers
Nikkei Inc.

Sponsored by

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Daishinsha Inc.

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