[Magic of Art 04] Masterpieces of 20th century art from Hakone and Yokosuka gathered at Yokosuka Museum of Art
The "20th Century Art in Resonance: The Hakone Open-Air Museum x Yokosuka Museum of Art" exhibition, which runs until December 22, 2024 at the Yokosuka Museum of Art, is the second in the "Connecting Mountains and Seas through Art" project, which is a collaboration with art museums in the Hakone area. With the cooperation of the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which has an excellent collection of 20th century art including Picasso and Moore, the exhibition combines masterpieces from both museums to create a mutual resonance. 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 in Kanagawa Prefectural Kannonzaki Park, where historical remains include the Kannonzaki Lighthouse, Japan's first Western-style lighthouse, and the remains of a battery. 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 opening in 2007, the museum's magnificent 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 architectural world. The building's exterior is made up of a nested structure of glass and steel plates, and the open space is characterized by large and small round holes in the ceiling and walls. Due to its beautiful scenery, the museum is often used as a location for commercials, movies, and dramas, as well as magazine shoots, and some people come for reasons other than art. I think that's also a joy.
An exhibition where you can enjoy the harmony between masterpieces from two museums
The exhibition is a collaboration between art museums in Yokosuka, in the east of Kanagawa Prefecture, and Hakone, in the west, with the theme of "Connecting the mountains and the sea through art." The first installment was held from April to July 2023, and featured works by Rene Lalique from the Lalique Museum Hakone 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 we had become more aware of microtourism, which is enjoying and sightseeing in nearby areas. So I wondered if we could make use of that style and work together within the prefecture to carry out cultural and artistic activities. That was the trigger for me to participate in 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 Rene Lalique's work 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 at each museum's shop, collaboration menus will be served at the attached restaurants, and exchanges will also be held in areas other than the exhibition. I heard that in Hakone, dishes using Yokosuka and Miura vegetables will be served.
-In the second phase currently underway, there are many sculptures on display alongside 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 up an excellent collection, mainly of 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.
Works you may have seen at the Kutsuzawa Open-Air Museum may look different in the unique space of our museum. Three giant "ears" by sculptor Miki Tomio, who has been obsessed with left ears for the rest of his life, are on display in the entrance hall. Listen carefully to the words these works are telling you.
A museum rooted in the local community
The Yokosuka Museum of Art is a bridge that connects art and the local community. It has an atelier near Kannonzaki Park and houses the Taniuchi Rokuro Museum, a museum dedicated to the artist Taniuchi Rokuro, who has been drawing cover illustrations for the magazine "Weekly Shincho" since its launch.
--The Taniuchi Rokuro Museum is holding an exhibition titled "Adults," featuring 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, a style that predominantly depicts children.
Taniuchi Rokuro had a specialty dish called "Ikurademo Soup" that he used to treat his family to. 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 at Yokosuka City elementary and junior high schools and special needs schools. During lunch time, videos introducing the works of Taniuchi Rokuro and the soup we provided were also shown, which I think left a lasting impression on the children about local artists and art.
- I think this is a wonderful 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 is narrated by former NHK announcer Takeuchi Touko and members of the Yokosuka Sogo High School Drama Club. Currently, explanations for about 120 pieces are available, and we will continue to increase the number of works, so please try it out when you visit the museum.
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
