Hiroichi Tatekata's Danceable LIFE Vol. 10
Recharge your energy at the "Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition"!
Hirokazu Tatekata (Actor, Dancer, Choreographer)
Although the difficult situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there are always opportunities to encounter wonderful things. This time, thanks to a suggestion from the Magcal editorial department, I had the opportunity to be guided around the Yokohama Museum of Art. I had a very enjoyable time, so I will report on the whole experience.
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 impressive and awe-inspiring, but once inside, you are greeted by the spacious Grand Gallery, which creates a bright and relaxing atmosphere.
Tange, who viewed architecture as "community development," apparently envisioned opening this space 24 hours a day, allowing people to freely come and go, during the planning stages. Although this was not realized due to security concerns, it is free to enter during opening hours, and concerts have been held there, so perhaps its function as a "town square" was fulfilled.
If you look up at the museum from the front, you'll see a space in the center that resembles an observation deck.
I was surprised to learn from the curator that it really was an observation deck!
Apparently, there were no tall buildings in the surrounding area at the time, so you could see the sea from here.
This is what it looks like now. Apparently, it's usually used for volunteer staff activities and is not open to the public.
In front of the museum is Grand Mall Park, where you can feel the vibrancy of the town that Tange envisioned. Perhaps the Minato Mirai area has developed to this extent because of the construction of this museum.
From here, Chief Curator Yuko Katata gave us a tour of the "Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition."
"The theme of this exhibition is 'Yokohama Polyphony: Yokohama and Art from the 1910s to the 1960s.' While Japan underwent changes in eras from Meiji to Taisho and then to Showa, Yokohama suffered devastating damage twice—once from the Great Kanto Earthquake and once from World War II—and then achieved remarkable recovery. It was a turbulent period. We hope you will experience this historical flow through art."
The prologue and Chapter 1 represent what is considered the "youth of Western painting" for Japanese people, and you can feel the passion of painters who, while yearning for Western art, are searching for "what it means to be Japanese?" As they learn Western painting techniques and become familiar with overseas trends and what is considered cool, they search for the meaning of depicting it themselves. I felt that the struggle of not simply imitating but making it their own expression is the same as in the world of dance.
Chapter 3 is "Reconstruction from the Great Kanto Earthquake."
"While there were painters who documented the Great Kanto Earthquake, two years after the earthquake, an exhibition introducing French art was held at the site of the temporary city hall in front of Sakuragicho Station. People were able to see the 'actual' Western paintings that they had previously only been able to see in small, monochrome illustrations, and postcards of the paintings were apparently very popular as souvenirs."
Chapter 6 featured works by photographers.
"In 1938, the Yokohama Art Association Exhibition established a photography department, a pioneering move nationwide. Photography, which had not been recognized as an art form, began to gain acceptance as a means of artistic expression."
What caught my eye was the work of Toyoko Tokiwa. Apparently, she's a pioneering figure among female photographers, and it's wonderful that female artists were already active in Japan during that era.
What personally captivated me the most was the circular exhibition room. The high ceilings created a very pleasant atmosphere.
"This is where we are exhibiting Yoshishige Saito's 'Interior.' He is an artist who has been creating groundbreaking works such as semi-three-dimensional and abstract expressionism since before the war. This work was originally created with a rectangular interior in mind, but in 1994, when we held the 'Post-War Japanese Avant-Garde Art' exhibition at our museum, it was exhibited for the first time in this circular exhibition room under the artist's own instructions."
It's a bright, open, and truly wonderful space. When you hear "avant-garde art," you tend to think it sounds difficult, but being in such a wonderful art space makes you feel very happy.
The last room is the "Today's Artists Exhibition."
"The Yokohama Civic Gallery was established in 1964, and the 'Artists of Today' exhibition, which introduces notable contemporary artists, began to be held. Here, we are showcasing the gallery's collection of works by artists who exhibited in the 1960s, from among the 40 years the exhibition was held."
"In the 1960s, the so-called 'anti-art' movement became active, and free expression that was not bound by existing frameworks began to emerge in Japan as well. Here, we are exhibiting works by Japanese artists that are parodies of works by great masters like Marcel Duchamp."
From the 1960s onward, there was an increase in artistic expressions that broke away from existing forms of art, attempting to transform space itself into a work of art, rather than being a painting or sculpture.
While performing arts like dance are inherently ephemeral, disappearing into the fleeting world of art, there's a growing trend in fine arts as well—works that don't end as physical objects. Perhaps contemporary art is something to be enjoyed not just with the eyes, but with all five senses, including taste, smell, and touch.
Finally, we were given another tour of the observation deck on the 8th floor.
It was completely dark outside, and Grand Mall Park, bathed in illuminations, was truly beautiful!
I used to think of art museums as being somewhat "formal," but I really enjoyed myself today.
First of all, the museum building itself has a compelling presence, and there's a real pleasure in being inside it. I was also surprised to see how active the young staff, including Ms. Katata who guided us, are. The Yokohama Museum of Art will be closed for an extended period from March 2021 for renovations. While the exterior, designed by Mr. Tange, will remain largely unchanged, the facilities, such as the air conditioning, will be reborn in a more comfortable and youthful way, which I'm looking forward to.
I hear that the last special exhibition before the museum closes, "Trialogue," includes works by my favorite artist, Andy Warhol, so I hope I can visit one more time before it closes.
Please include an explanation next time as well!
Yokohama Museum of Art Collection Exhibition
"Yokohama Polyphony: Yokohama and Art from the 1910s to the 1960s"
[Dates and Times] November 14th (Sat) - February 28th, 2021 (Sun), 10:00 - 18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)
[Venue] Yokohama Museum of Art
[Closed days] Thursdays (except February 11th), Friday, February 12th
[Admission Fees] General admission: ¥500, University/High school students: ¥300, Junior high school students: ¥100, Elementary school students and younger: Free, Persons with disabilities and their caregivers (1 person): Free
*Reservations required (specified date and time)
[Organizer] Yokohama Museum of Art (Yokohama Arts and Culture Foundation)
[Inquiries] 045-221-0300 (Yokohama Museum of Art)
*Please check our website for information regarding the museum's opening status in relation to the coronavirus.
