Hiroichi Tategata's Danceable LIFE Vol.10
Recharge your batteries at the Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition!
Hirokazu Tategata (actor, dancer, choreographer)
Although the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a difficult situation, there are always opportunities to encounter wonderful things. This time, we had the opportunity to show you around the Yokohama Museum of Art at the suggestion of the Magcal editorial department. I was able to spend a very enjoyable time, so I will report the whole story.
The Yokohama Museum of Art opened in 1989. It was designed by the late Kenzo Tange, one of Japan's leading architects. The symmetrical exterior is powerful and overwhelming, but when you enter, you will be greeted by the spacious grand gallery, which will make you feel bright and relaxed.
Mr. Tange, who regarded architecture as “town development,” wanted to make it a space that would be open 24 hours a day and where people could freely come and go. Although it was not realized due to security concerns, it is possible to enter for free during opening hours, and concerts have been held, so it may have been able to function as a "town square". .
Looking up at the museum from the front, there is a space like an observatory in the center.
When I asked the curator, I was surprised to hear that it was actually an observatory!
At that time, there were no tall buildings in the surrounding area, so it is said that the sea could be seen from here.
The current view looks like this. It is usually used for volunteer staff activities and is not open to the public.
In front of the museum is the Grand Mall Park, where you can feel the liveliness of the town envisioned by Mr. Tange. It may be that the town of Minato Mirai has developed so far because of this museum.
From here, Ms. Yuko Katata, the chief curator, guided us through the "Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition."
“This year’s theme is ‘Yokohama Polyphony: Yokohama and Art from the 1910s to the 1960s. It was a turbulent era in which the city suffered devastating damage over a period of time and has since achieved reconstruction.I would like you to see the flow of history through art.”
From the beginning to the first chapter, it is said that for Japanese people, it is the "young age of Western painting", and you can feel the "enthusiasm" of the painters who admire Western art and wonder "What is Japaneseness?" As they learned the techniques of Western-style painting and learned about overseas trends and coolness, they wondered what it meant to draw them themselves. I felt that the conflict of expressing yourself rather than imitating is the same as in the world of dance.
Chapter 3 is "Recovery from the Great Kanto Earthquake".
“While there are painters who have painted records of the Great Kanto Earthquake, two years after the disaster, an exhibition introducing French art was held at the site of the temporary city hall in front of Sakuragicho Station. It became possible to see the ``real'' Western paintings, which had not been possible before, and postcards became popular as souvenirs.”
In Chapter 6, the photographer's works were lined up.
“In 1938, at the Yokohama Art Association Exhibition, a photography club was established for the first time in Japan.
What caught my eye was Tokiwa and Yoko's work. She is said to be a pioneer of female photographers, and it is wonderful that female artists were already active in Japan during this period.
Personally, I was strongly attracted to the circular exhibition room. It's a very comfortable space with high ceilings.
"Here is Yoshishige Saito's 'Inside'. Since before the war, he has been working on 'penetrating' works such as semi-solid and abstract expressions. This work was originally created assuming a rectangular room. However, in 1994, when the museum held the exhibition 'Postwar Japanese Avant-Garde Art', it was exhibited for the first time in this circular exhibition room under the artist's own instructions.
It's bright, open, and really nice. When you hear avant-garde art, you tend to think that it sounds difficult, but when you put yourself in such a wonderful art space, you feel very happy.
The last room is "Today's Artist Exhibition".
"In 1964, the Yokohama Citizen's Gallery was opened, and the 'Today's Artist Exhibition' was held to introduce noteworthy contemporary artists. Here, we introduce the collection of works by artists exhibited in the 1960s from the exhibition held over 40 years.
“In the 1960s, the so-called “anti-art” movement became active, and free expression that was not bound by existing frameworks emerged in Japan. We also exhibit works that Japanese artists play with.”
Since the 1960s, there has been an increase in the number of forms of expression that break away from existing art forms and attempt to turn spaces into works of art that are neither paintings nor sculptures.
Performing arts such as dance are originally ephemeral worlds that disappear moment by moment. Modern art may be something that can be enjoyed not only with the eyes, but also with all five senses, including taste, smell, and touch.
Finally, I was guided to the observatory on the 8th floor again.
It's completely dark outside, and the illuminated Grand Mall Park is really beautiful!
I had a somewhat "conventional" image of museums, but today was really fun.
First of all, the presence of the museum building itself is persuasive, so there is a real pleasure in being inside it. I was also surprised at how young staff, including Mr. Katata, who guided us, are active. The Yokohama Museum of Art will be closed for renovations from March 2021. Although the exterior, which was designed by Mr. Tange, is almost unchanged, the air conditioning and other facilities will be more comfortable and reborn, so I'm looking forward to it.
I heard that works by my favorite Andy Warhol will be on display at the last exhibition before the museum is closed, "Trialogue," so I hope I can come again before the museum is closed.
Even then, please provide an explanation!
Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition
"Yokohama Polyphony: Yokohama and Art from the 1910s to the 1960s"
[Date and Time] Saturday, November 14th to Sunday, February 28th, 2021 10:00-18:00 (admission until 17:30)
[Venue] Yokohama Museum of Art
[Closed] Thursdays (except February 11), February 12 (Friday)
[Fee] General ¥500, University/high school students ¥300, Junior high school students ¥100, Elementary school students and younger free, Disabled person and caregiver (1 person) free
* Reservation system for specifying the date and time
[Organizer] Yokohama Museum of Art (Yokohama Arts Foundation)
[Inquiries] 045-221-0300 (Yokohama Museum of Art)
*Please see here for details.
*Please check the website for the opening status of the new coronavirus.
