Let's take a mini-tour of popular art museums in Kanagawa Prefecture with Magcal WEB!
(Top image) Yokohama Museum of Art. Photo by Yuichiro Tanaka.
Kanagawa Prefecture boasts numerous art museums, each possessing its own unique charm, from the collections they house to their scale and location. Spending time surrounded by art, or relaxing in their attached cafes, is an irreplaceable and blissful experience. It was truly unfortunate that many museums were forced to close in the first half of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the lifting of the state of emergency, preparations for reopening are currently underway, with each institution taking its own precautions. While more museums have reopened in June, many people are still unsure when the right time to visit is.
So, we asked some popular art museums in the prefecture to share some of their collections and information about their special exhibitions!
Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
*Kamakura Annex. Photography: Keizo Kioku
In 1951, it opened on the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura as Japan's first public modern art museum. The "Old Kamakura Building," designed by Junzo Sakakura, sadly closed in 2016 due to aging. Currently, it continues its operations with two buildings: the "Hayama Building," which stands overlooking Isshiki Beach, and the "Kamakura Annex," located about a 15-minute walk from Kamakura Station.
[Venue] Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura Annex (Currently closed for renovations [until January 2021 (scheduled)])
[Closed] Mondays, during exhibition changeovers, and during the New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
[Opening Hours] 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Address] 2-8-1 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City
[TEL] 0467-22-5000
■ Yoshio Aoyama, "Studio," 1925, Collection of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
■ Shunsuke Matsumoto, "In the City," 1938, Collection of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
■Yoko Matsumoto, "Private Scene," 2005, Collection of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
■Kazuo Okazaki, "Lucky Cat," 2006, Collection of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art. Photo by ©Tadasu Yamamoto
* Hayama-kan
Meanwhile, Hayama Hall, which had been closed for renovations, reopened on Tuesday, July 1, 2020.
Check out the exhibitions currently running!!
[100th Anniversary of Japan-Czech Republic Exchange]
A 100-Year Journey Through Czech Design
[Venue] Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Hayama Annex, Exhibition Rooms 2 & 3
[Period] July 31st (Friday) – September 22nd (Tuesday/Holiday), 2020
[Closed] Mondays
[Opening Hours] 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Address] 2208-1 Isshiki, Hayama-cho
[TEL] 046-875-2800
Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
*Please check the official website for details.
Yokohama Museum of Art
*Photography: Yasuyuki Kasagi
Since its opening in 1989, the museum has focused on collecting and exhibiting works of modern and contemporary art, befitting its status as an international port city in Yokohama. With seven exhibition rooms, an art information center housing over 110,000 books, and studios offering a variety of workshops, it is one of the largest art museums in Japan.
The building, characterized by its imposing, symmetrical exterior, was designed by Kenzo Tange, one of Japan's leading architects.
*Photography: Yasuyuki Kasagi
The "Grand Gallery," consisting of a spacious, approximately 20-meter-high atrium entrance made extensively with granite, and a tiered exhibition space extending approximately 100 meters to the left and right, is a space that can be called the symbol of the museum.
This year is the year of the Yokohama Triennale, an international exhibition of contemporary art held every three years. Although the museum is currently closed, preparations are underway for its opening on July 17th (Friday).
[Yokohama Triennale 2020 " AFTERGLOW - Catching Fragments of Light "]
[Period] July 17th (Friday) – October 11th (Sunday), 2020
Following the conclusion of the Yokohama Triennale 2020, a joint exhibition with the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art and the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art will be held. Drawing from the Western art collections of these three major public art museums, the exhibition will trace the footsteps of 20th-century Western art, characterized by repeated innovations in expressive techniques and concepts, featuring over 100 works by artists such as Picasso, Klee, Miró, Ernst, Dali, Magritte, Pollock, Bacon, and Richter.
[ Trialogue: Yokohama Museum of Art, Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art - 20th Century Western Art Collections ]
[Duration] November 14, 2020 (Sat) - February 28, 2021 (Sun)
[Closed days] Thursdays (except February 11, 2021), December 29, 2020 (Tue) - January 3, 2021 (Sun), February 12 (Fri)
■ René Magritte, "The King's Museum," 1966, Oil on canvas, 130.0 x 89.0 cm, Collection of Yokohama Museum of Art.
The man in the bowler hat repeatedly appears in Magritte's works from the 1920s until his later years. Only his eyes, nose, and mouth remain, and his silhouette projects a landscape of forests and mountains enveloped in silence. By depicting the distant scenery, which should be in the background, in the foreground, he defies the rules of painting and invites the viewer into a mysterious other world. It is said that Magritte often entrusted the titles of his works to his friends, and his old friend Scutenaire, whom he had known since 1927, testified that he was the one who named this work. The painter, who explored "what must be depicted in order for mystery to exist," also concealed a mystery in the relationship between the work and its title. (Mayuko Kanai, curator of the Yokohama Museum of Art, from "Selected Works from the Yokohama Museum of Art Collection" [2014])
■ Paul Klee, "The Matter, Spirit and Symbol of Aggression," 1922, Watercolor and oil on paper, 33.5 x 47.5 cm, Collection of Yokohama Museum of Art.
On a soft background, three motifs resembling figures are depicted with sharp lines, forming a vector from left to right. This work employs Klee's unique "oil transfer" technique, in which he first created an original drawing, then applied oil-based ink to the back of the drawing, traced it over with a stylus, and transferred it to the paper below. The original drawing (1922, whereabouts unknown) bears the title "Aggression as Symbol ← Will ← And Execution," as well as the labels "Execution," "Will," and "Symbol" written on the three motifs from left to right. This work embodies Klee's very idea of the process of creating painting. (Shintaro Matsunaga, Chief Curator, Yokohama Museum of Art, from "Selected Works from the Yokohama Museum of Art Collection" [2014])
■ Wassily Kandinsky, "Red in a Net," 1927, Oil on cardboard, 61.0 x 49.0 cm, Collection of Yokohama Museum of Art.
Geometric motifs such as straight lines, triangles, rectangles, and crescent shapes are combined to form a harmonious picture. Following his appointment to the German comprehensive art school Bauhaus (1922), Kandinsky's painting underwent a major shift from so-called Expressionist abstraction to geometric abstraction. While this work, created in the middle of his Bauhaus period, shows the influence of the contemporary Russian and Dutch Constructivist movements, its diverse forms and soft color expression maintain the artist's unique lyrical sensibility, setting it apart from the rigor of Constructivist painting. (Shintaro Matsunaga, Chief Curator, Yokohama Museum of Art, from "Selected Works from the Yokohama Museum of Art Collection" [2014])
Yokohama Museum of Art
[Address] 3-4-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama City
[TEL] 045-221-0300
*Please check the official website for details.
Kawasaki City Taro Okamoto Museum of Art
The museum opened in 1999 within Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, housing and displaying 1,779 works donated to Kawasaki City by artist Taro Okamoto. Outdoors, the museum's symbolic tower, "Mother's Tower," whose prototype was created in 1971, is on display.
The museum's exhibition rooms are designed to convey the trajectory of Taro Okamoto's artistic works, writings, performances, and fieldwork, using lighting, video, and other theatrical effects to showcase his creations. The space is characterized by its ability to allow visitors to "experience" the world of Taro Okamoto.
■Taro Okamoto, "The Law of the Forest," 1950, Oil on canvas
■Taro Okamoto, "Heavy Industry," 1949, Oil on canvas
■Taro Okamoto, "Tower of the Sun," 1970, FRP
Currently, the permanent exhibition hall is hosting "The Path to the Tower of the Sun: The Tower of the Sun Was the 'Tree of Life'" (until October 11th).
Kawasaki City Taro Okamoto Museum of Art
[Opening Hours] 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Closed days] Mondays (except when they are national holidays), the day after a national holiday (except when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday), New Year holidays, and other occasional temporary closures.
[Admission Fee] Varies depending on the exhibition; please check the official website for details.
[Address] 7-1-5 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City (within Ikuta Ryokuchi Park)
[TEL] 044-900-9898
Kamakura City Kaburagi Kiyokata Memorial Museum
This museum is built on the site of the former residence of Kiyokata Kaburagi, a master of modern Japanese painting, and the place where he spent his final days in Yukinoshita, Kamakura. The traditional Japanese building stands gracefully amidst the quiet residential area of the ancient city of Kamakura.
After the war, the artist moved from Gotemba, where he had been evacuated, to Zaimokuza in Kamakura. In 1954, he established a studio in Yukinoshita, where he lived until his death at the age of 93 in 1972.
The following exhibitions are currently being held.
[Sparkling Summer - Kiyokata and Yushin-an -]
[Dates] July 4th (Sat) - August 25th (Tue), 9:30 - 16:20
[Opening Hours] 9:30 AM - 4:20 PM
[Closed] Mondays
[Admission Fee] General admission: 200 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen
■ "The Grave of Ichiyo Higuchi," 1902, Collection of the Kaburagi Kiyokata Memorial Museum, Kamakura City
The idea came to me after I visited the Higuchi family grave, which was then located at Tsukiji Honganji Temple, prompted by Izumi Kyoka's essay "Ichiyo's Grave" (published in 1900 in the literary magazine "Shin Shosetsu"). The image of Midori, the protagonist of Higuchi Ichiyo's novel "Takekurabe," leaning against the Higuchi family grave is based on a sketch I made at that time.
■ "Morning Coolness" 1925, Collection of the Kaburagi Kiyokata Memorial Museum, Kamakura City
This work was submitted to the Imperial Art Exhibition, sponsored by the government. Kiyokata himself said that this was one of his representative works, and that he "completely regained himself" when he created it, at a time when he was feeling lost in his creative process. It is based on his life in Kanazawa Hakkei (present-day Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), where he had a villa.
■ "The Bride" (1907), Collection of the Kaburagi Kiyokata Memorial Museum, Kamakura City
Kamakura City Kaburagi Kiyokata Memorial Museum
[Address] 1-5-25 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City
[ TEL ] 0467-23-6405
Chigasaki City Museum
This art museum was established by Chigasaki City in April 1998.
The museum houses approximately 2,000 works, primarily focusing on artists and works associated with Chigasaki, including Tetsugoro Man, who left his mark on the history of modern Western-style painting in Japan; Keizo Koyama, a Western-style painter who received the Order of Culture for his solid artistic technique; Kyoji Mihashi, a watercolor painter who was captivated by Spain; Koitsu Tsuchiya, who charmingly depicted landscapes from all over Japan using woodblock prints; and emerging artists who are currently based in Chigasaki.
The museum has been temporarily closed, but we plan to reopen the exhibitions on Wednesday, July 1st. To cheer up those of you who have been feeling lonely, the museum has kindly provided us with images of its collection.
■ Yoshio Aoyama, "Rose Arch," 1989, Oil on canvas, 60.6 x 72.7 cm (Private collection)
The rose arch depicted in this artwork is a scene from the garden of the Franciscan monastery in Cimiez, a suburb of Nice, where Henri Matisse, one of the greatest masters of the 20th century, is buried. Matisse admired Aoyama's use of color and maintained a close friendship with him until his death.
■Tetsugoro Man, "Coastal Landscape," 1926, Oil on canvas, 33.4 cm (height) x 45.5 cm (width)
In March 1919, Man moved from Koishikawa in Tokyo to Chigasaki to recuperate from an illness. From then on, he is said to have deeply loved the pine forests of Chigasaki, the rustling of the waves, and the gentle breeze from the sea.
Chigasaki City Museum of Art
[Address] 1-4-45 Higashikaigan Kita, Chigasaki City
[TEL] 0467-88-1177
*Please check the official website for details.
Yokosuka Museum of Art
Opened in 2007 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's founding, the museum is situated in a privileged environment surrounded on three sides by the lush greenery of Kannonzaki Prefectural Park, with Tokyo Bay stretching out before it. To ensure that visitors can always feel connected to the surrounding nature, the museum has large and small circular openings in the ceiling and sides, creating an open and airy space.
The collection is notable for its works by Western-style painters such as Kan'emon Asai and Minoru Kawabata, as well as other artists associated with Yokosuka.
■Minoru Kawabata, "Rhythm Tea," 1958, oil on canvas
■Kanemon Asai《Rose (medium pot with Kajing blue flower and Karako pattern)〈exquisite〉〉1983, oil on canvas
■ Mitsuya Nakamura, "Afterglow" (Early Exhibition), 1989, Yuzen dyeing.
Yokosuka Museum of Art
[Opening Hours] 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
[Closed days] First Monday of each month (except when it is a public holiday), December 29th to January 3rd
[Admission Fee] General: 380 yen, High school/University students/Seniors (65 and over): 280 yen, Junior high school students and younger: Free
[Address] 4-1 Kamoi, Yokosuka City
[TEL] 046-845-1211
Okada Museum of Art
Opened in 2013 in Kowakidani, Hakone, this museum boasts the largest indoor exhibition area in Hakone and permanently displays approximately 450 works of art, including Japanese and East Asian ceramics and paintings. Its appeal lies in the variety of ways visitors can enjoy the museum, such as the footbath cafe located in front of the large mural "Wind and Time," depicting the wind and thunder gods, painted by contemporary Japanese artist Kotaro Fukui.
[ Celebrating the 260th Anniversary of Hokusai's Birth : Original Paintings by Hokusai — Along with Masterpieces of Woodblock Prints and Erotic Art— ]
( Until September 27, 2020 (Sunday))
This exhibition showcases 17 works by Hokusai, including 11 exquisite original paintings representing different periods in his 70-year career, from his 40s to his final years, as well as prints, illustrated books, and erotic prints. Through works by French glass artist Émile Gallé (1846-1904), who was influenced by Hokusai, the exhibition explores the genius of Katsushika Hokusai from various angles.
■ Katsushika Hokusai, "Summer Morning" (detail), early 19th century, collection of Okada Museum of Art.
Around the age of 50, when he painted "Summer Morning," Hokusai also devoted himself to creating hand-painted portraits of beautiful women, producing numerous works that are considered masterpieces. In this exhibition, it will be displayed alongside "Beauty in Summer Attire" (private collection), which is also renowned as a masterpiece.
■Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji: "Fine Wind, Clear Morning," 1831-1833, Collection of Okada Museum of Art
*Exhibition period until July 31st
The world-famous "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series was created by Hokusai when he was over 70 years old, and his innovative use of Prussian blue (commonly known as "Prussian blue"), a cutting-edge imported art material, garnered widespread acclaim.
These vibrant new chocolates are inspired by two of the museum's most famous works, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" and "Fine Wind, Clear Morning," both from the artist's "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series. They are available for purchase at the museum shop.
Okada Museum of Art
[Opening Hours] 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Closed days] Open every day during the exhibition period.
[Admission Fee] General/University Students: 2,800 yen, Elementary School Students to High School Students: 1,800 yen
[Address] 493-1 Kowakidani, Hakone-machi
[ TEL ] 0460-87-3931
Hakone Open-Air Museum
Opened in 1969 as Japan's first open-air art museum, the Hakone Open-Air Museum boasts a 70,000 square meter garden overlooking the Hakone mountains and permanently displays 120 masterpieces by leading modern and contemporary sculptors.
The museum reopened on Sunday, June 8th, but some facilities, such as the popular "Net Forest," "Soap Bubble Castle," and "Log Square Kitoki," remain unavailable. Nevertheless, the main attraction here is undoubtedly the pleasant outdoor exhibition space. Stepping out of the entrance through the tunnel, you'll find the garden museum surrounded by the mountains of Hakone.
■ Fernand Léger, "Walking Flowers"
Léger, a painter active in the first half of the 20th century, created monuments in his later years with the aim of collaborating with architects. This dynamic work appears to be vigorously advancing towards the sun.
■ Auguste Rodin, "Balzac," 1891-98, Bronze, 270 x 120 x 127 cm
Commissioned by the Society of Writers and Artists, Rodin created the plaster cast based on a portrait photograph, but the plaster statue, depicting him in a gown, was harshly criticized by the society and refused to be taken back. Rodin took the plaster cast with him and never let it out of his sight for the rest of his life. The work was installed and unveiled in Paris only after his death, in 1939.
■ Carl Milles, "Man and Pegasus," Bronze, 250 x 223 x 140 cm
This scene depicts Bellerophon, a hero from Greek mythology, riding the winged horse Pegasus to slay the monster Chimera. Displayed on a 19-meter pedestal, this artwork stands out beautifully against the backdrop of the sky.
Hakone Open-Air Museum
[Opening Hours] 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Closed days] Open every day
[Admission Fee] General: 1,600 yen, University/High School Students: 1,200 yen, Junior High/Elementary School Students: 800 yen
[Address] 1121 Ninohira, Hakone-machi
[TEL] 0460-82-1169
Pola Museum of Art
Opened in Hakone in 2002, this museum houses a collection of Western paintings, Japanese Western-style paintings, Japanese paintings, prints, Oriental ceramics, glass art, and cosmetic tools from all eras and regions.
The concept behind the construction was "the coexistence of Hakone's nature and art." The building, designed with consideration for Hakone's natural environment and landscape, is kept to a height of 8 meters above ground level, with much of the structure located underground, creating a form that blends seamlessly into the surrounding forest.
The exhibition rooms utilize fiber optic lighting that recreates "a July evening in Paris" to allow visitors to beautifully appreciate Impressionist works. Visitors can enjoy a world of beauty woven from outstanding artworks, beautiful green nature, and a light-filled architectural space.
The museum reopened on Monday, June 1st, and is currently hosting the following exhibitions.
[Monet and Matisse: Another Paradise]
[Exhibition Period] Until November 3, 2020 (Tuesday)
[Closed days] Open every day during the exhibition period (temporary closures may occur for exhibit changes)
[Opening Hours] 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
[Admission Fee] Adults: 1,800 yen / Seniors (65 and over): 1,600 yen / University and high school students: 1,300 yen / Junior high school students and younger: Free
■ Claude Monet, *Water Lilies*, 1899, Oil on canvas, 88.6 x 91.9 cm
Monet painted a scene of a water lily pond and bridge in the fantastical garden he created. This work is one of a series of 18 paintings. After this, his interest gradually shifted to the various effects that changes in light due to time of day and weather have on the surface of the pond.
■Henri Matisse, "The Lute," 1943, Oil on canvas, 60.0 x 81.5 cm
Matisse created this work in 1943 while staying at the Regina Hotel in Nice, southern France, to escape the war. "At times I tried to achieve a certain balance and expressive rhythm through color alone, and at other times I tried to confirm the power of arabesque alone," Matisse confessed during this period.
■ Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "Girl with a Lace Hat," 1891, Oil on canvas, 55.1 x 46.0 cm
The brushstrokes that convey the texture and lightness of the lace hat seem to convey Renoir's joy in painting. As can be seen in the depiction of the dress, with its skillfully rendered volume at the cuffs, Renoir excelled at capturing and depicting the texture of clothing.
Pola Museum of Art
[Address] 1285 Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi
[ TEL ] 0460-84-2111
