[Hakone Pola Museum of Art] Asia's largest collection, a new initiative commemorating the 100th anniversary of Monet's death.

Claude Monet, a leading Impressionist painter, passed away on December 5, 1926, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of his death. To commemorate this milestone, retrospective exhibitions of his work are being held in France, including his birthplace Paris, as well as in Japan and around the world, and are proving to be very popular.

Furthermore, the Pola Museum of Art (Hakone), known for having one of the largest collections of Monet's works in Asia, has decided to hold a special exhibition showcasing all of its Monet collection from June 2026 to April 2027, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Monet's death and the 25th anniversary of the museum's opening.

All 19 works in the collection will be on display!

The Pola Museum of Art's collection begins with "Argenteuil Seen from a Tribute of the Seine" (1872), painted in the same year as "Impression, Sunrise," and continues to "Salute Canal" (1908), a landscape from Venice, which was Monet's last artistic trip, encompassing the entire trajectory of his career as a painter. Even those without a deep knowledge of art may find some titles they have heard of or seen before.

Unraveling the allure of Monet with a fresh perspective, a century later.

What sets this exhibition apart from others is not just the number of works on display. It presents the works of contemporary artists not as an art-historical comparison with Monet's works, but as a creative dialogue, attempting to unravel the secret of the elusive charm of Monet's works, which continue to shine even after more than a century.

For example, Monet's "Water Lilies" is contrasted with the work of French artist Noémie Gudal. Her work creates optical illusions, like stage backdrops, and captures them in photographs and videos. The garden in Giverny, the setting for "Water Lilies," is an artificial garden created by Monet himself. In other words, both share the common technique of transforming artificially created environments into photographs, videos, or paintings.

The common thread between "Sunset on the Seine, Winter" and Félix González-Torres's "Untitled (Portrait of Marcel Brian)" is that both artists created their works while contemplating the absence of a loved one. Monet expressed the sense of loss he felt after losing his beloved wife Camille by depicting a tranquil moment. Torres expressed the presence of his deceased lover or family member by using candy that weighed the same as their weight. This time, in addition to the theme, the works are presented in a visually juxtaposed way, with the blue of the candy representing the icy souls flowing down the Seine, and the use of light bulbs representing the sunset.

Additionally, Su-Mei Tse, a cellist from Luxembourg known for her works combining sound, video, and sculpture, is currently working on a project that seems to follow the landscapes Monet saw. The full scope of this project has not yet been revealed.
The Impressionists, who created free-spirited paintings unbound by traditional themes and techniques, and Monet, who laid its foundation, possess a timeless brilliance that remains even a century later. However, when we cross our perspectives and view the works of artists of the new century with renewed eyes, we will be surprised to discover even more new ways of seeing them.

Personally, I feel that even complex contemporary art can be better understood through a dialogue with Monet, and I can't help but look forward to actually confronting the artworks, as this is something I can only imagine from reading the materials.

His life itself spanned centuries, but to think that it would transcend another century and now inspire us once again—this exhibition promises to be a testament to the greatness of this "master."

From the lobby to the outdoors! The 25th anniversary celebrations are on a whole different scale.

This special exhibition commemorates not only the 100th anniversary of Monet's death, but also the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Pola Museum of Art.

In particular, since 2015 the museum has been expanding its collection, adding works by contemporary artists from Japan and abroad who are active on the world stage, and many of these works are being exhibited for the first time. The work by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, which was mentioned earlier, is also a newly acquired piece that is being shown for the first time.

The exhibition is large-scale, spanning from the lobby to the forest walking paths, and features sculptures, installations, and performances.

This special exhibition offers a unique experience, combining the emotional impact of art with the soothing atmosphere of a museum surrounded by nature. Why not include it in your holiday plans? Since Monet exhibitions held at other museums have all sold out, we recommend planning ahead.