[The Magic of Art 04] Masterpieces of 20th-century art from Hakone and Yokosuka gathered at the Yokosuka Museum of Art
"20th Century Art in Resonance: The Hakone Open-Air Museum x Yokosuka Museum of Art," running until December 22, 2024, is the second installment of the "Connecting Mountains and Sea through Art" project, which is a collaboration between art museums in the Hakone area. With the cooperation of the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which boasts an outstanding collection of 20th-century art, including works by Picasso and Moore, the exhibition combines masterpieces from both museums, allowing visitors to enjoy the interplay between them. We spoke with Takehiko Okamoto, the museum's operations manager, and Kosuke Kutsuzawa, the museum's curator.
A seaside museum surrounded by nature and history
The Yokosuka Museum of Art is located within Kanagawa Prefectural Kannonzaki Park, where historical remains such as the Kannonzaki Lighthouse, Japan's first Western-style lighthouse, and the remains of a battery remain. The rooftop plaza offers a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay, and the design, which allows access from both the sea side and the mountain side, has also attracted attention.
-It's a beautiful museum no matter when you look at it.
Okamoto: Thank you.
Since its opening in 2007, the museum's majestic location has been one of its attractions. This spring, the architect who designed it, Yamamoto Riken, won the 2024 Pritzker Prize, known as the Nobel Prize of the architecture world. The museum's distinctive features include an exterior with a nested structure of glass and steel plates, and open spaces with large and small circular holes in the ceiling and walls. Because of its beautiful scenery, the museum is often used as a location for commercials, movies, and TV dramas, as well as for magazine shoots. Some people also visit for reasons other than art, which I find gratifying.
An exhibition where you can enjoy the harmony between masterpieces from two museums
The exhibition, which is based on the theme of "Connecting the mountains and the sea through art," is a collaboration between art museums in Yokosuka, in the east of Kanagawa Prefecture, and Hakone, in the west. The first installment, held from April to July 2023, showcased works by René Lalique from the Lalique Museum Hakone's collection in the Yokosuka Museum of Art's collection exhibition room.
-Please tell us about the background of this project.
Okamoto: After the self-restraint caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt that there was a growing awareness among us of microtourism, which involves enjoying and sightseeing in nearby areas. So, I wondered if we could make use of this style and collaborate within the prefecture to carry out cultural and artistic activities. It all started when I attended a meeting of the Hakone Promotion Forum, which was working to rebuild the Hakone brand.
In the first installment, one commenter said, "I've wanted to see René Lalique's works for many years, but I couldn't make it to Hakone. I'm glad I can enjoy it in my hometown." During the exhibition, original goods will be sold in each museum's shop, collaborative menus will be served in the attached restaurants, and area exchanges will also be held outside of the exhibition. I heard that in Hakone, dishes using Yokosuka and Miura vegetables will be served.
-The second installment, currently underway, features many sculptures as well as paintings.
Kutsuzawa: The Hakone Open-Air Museum, which cooperated with us this time, opened as Japan's first outdoor art museum in 1969, and has since built an excellent collection centered on modern sculpture. Of the 39 pieces borrowed for this exhibition, 21 are three-dimensional works.
-The impression of the work changes depending on the exhibition environment.
Even artworks you may have seen at the Kutsuzawa Open-Air Museum may look different in the unique space of our museum. Three gigantic "Ears" by sculptor Tomio Miki, who spent his life obsessed with the left ear, are on display in the entrance hall. Listen carefully to the words these works are trying to convey to you.
As a museum rooted in the local community
The Yokosuka Museum of Art serves as a bridge connecting art and the local community. Located near Kannonzaki Park, it houses the Taniuchi Rokuro Museum, a museum dedicated to the artist Taniuchi Rokuro, who has been creating cover illustrations for the magazine "Weekly Shincho" since its inception.
-The Taniuchi Rokuro Museum is currently hosting the "Adults" exhibition of Taniuchi Rokuro's cover illustrations for Weekly Shincho magazine until February 16, 2025.
Okamoto: This is a unique exhibition that focuses on the adults who appear in Taniuchi Rokuro's cover illustrations, which predominantly depict children.
Taniuchi Rokuro had a specialty dish called "Ikurademo Soup" that he would serve to his family. To coincide with his birthday, December 2nd, last year at the end of November, a soup made by simmering meat and vegetables in milk was served as a school lunch menu item at Yokosuka City elementary and junior high schools and special needs schools. During lunchtime, videos introducing the works of Taniuchi Rokuro and the soup we provided were also shown, which we believe left a lasting impression on the children about local artists and art.
-I think it's a great initiative.
Okamoto: We also recommend the free museum exhibition guide app "Pocket Curator." It introduces the artworks in the collection and brief biographies of the artists, and features narration by former NHK announcer Takeuchi Touko and members of the Yokosuka Sogo High School Drama Club. Currently, explanations for around 120 artworks are available, and we plan to continue adding more, so please give it a try when you visit.
Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)
Yokosuka Museum of Art
Address: 4-1 Kamoi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number: 046-822-4000 (Yokosuka City Call Center)
Official website: here
