Yearly Calendar 2023

November 1, 2022–February 5, 2023
＊Closed on: Mondays except January 2 and 9; December 28–January1, and January 10

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Having started his career in the early 1980s, Ohtake Shinro (b. 1955) still continues to be a lead runner with an exceptional creative urge, using every way of artistic expression including painting, printing, drawing, sculpture, installation, design, video, picture books, music, and writing. Ranging from contemporary art to collaborations with artists in different fields, the scope of his activities seems to have no limit. In recent years, he has been featured as one of Japan’s leading artists in international exhibitions including the 2012 dOCUMENTA, the 2013 Venice Biennale, and the 2018 Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
The long-awaited first major solo show after the 2006 Zen-Kei: Retrospective 1955–2006 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, this exhibition evolves around his strikingly individual scrapbooks that symbolize the whole of his works and activities to trace his career. This retrospective will travel to the Museum of Art, Ehime (May 3ｰJuly 2, 2023) and Toyama Prefectured Museum of Art and Design (August 5ｰSeptember 18, 2023 [TBC]).

March 17–May 14, 2023
＊Closed on: Mondays except March 27, May 1 and 8

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Special Website (Japanese version only)

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 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 Important Cultural Properties.
This show offers a valuable opportunity to view many 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.

June 13–September 10, 2023

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Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), actived in Barcelona, Spain, continues to fascinate people around the world with his unique architecture unforgettable once seen, and his influence has been felt in various fields of art.
This exhibition focuses on the Sagrada Família, which has long been called the “unfinished cathedral” but is finally on track for completion, to reveal the source of Gaudí’s architectural thought and creativity, as well as the social significance of this monumental cathedral project. The show will also shed light on Gaudí’s unique production process, in which he developed his ideas not only through drawings but also by making numerous models, and on his comprehensive artistic orientation, which includes colorful tile coverings, furniture, steelwork decoration, and sculpture. In addition to more than 100 drawings, models, photographs, and materials, the exhibition will also feature architectural images taken with the latest technology to explore the timeless appeal of Gaudí’s architecture.

October 6–December 3, 2023

Woodblock Artist Munakata Shiko (1903–1975) gained such international acclaim that he is known as the “Munakata of the world.” His single-minded devotion to the printing blocks is etched in the memories of many people. Aomori, Tokyo, and Toyama, where he lived or based his production, each had a major influence on his development as an artist. To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Munakata’s birth, this exhibition will be presented jointly by three museums in the three regions: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Aomori Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. While crossing over various fields such as woodblock prints, Japanese-style paintings, and oil paintings, Munakata traversed the “media” unique to the era ranging from bookbinding, illustrations, and wrapping paper design to film, television, and radio appearances. Centered on the relationship between Munakata and each region, the exhibition illustrates his diverse activities to reconsider the nature of Munakata Shiko as an artist.