super fun curation, very irreverent and thought-provoking. really like that they show a different dimension of japanese art. it’s also located in tokyo midtown so you can do some shopping before/after.
Great exhibition on Kyosai right now which is a bit too often self referential („the great Goldman collection is …“) but what I really don’t understand is the super strict and unnecessary photo restrictions given some works are allowed and others not while most the ones which are on display the first time in Japan are not allowed to be photographed. I wanted to just photograph the downstairs room (mind you, not the artworks, the room) and I was called off. An older Japanese gentleman took a photo of one of the „super forbidden“ artworks and nothing happened. Maybe rules just count for foreigners.
To me, completely weird and unnecessary.
Located in the building of Tokyo Mid Town, the museum has about 2 floors of exhibition. Mostly, they are those prestigious artifects involving people's everyday's life, including trunk, ceramics, glass and room separator, aligning with the fundamental concept of "Art in Life."
I like the Western Kings on Horseback as this masterpiece is an early example of western-style painting in Japan. The painting refers to an image on the margin of a world map published in Amsterdam, magnified, colored, and finished in this
large format.
The kings are said to be, from the right, the King of Persia, the King of Ethiopia, and Henry IV of France. The identify of the figure on the far left is disputed, with the king of England. This piece also represents how Japan connected to the outside world and how miraculous it survive through the Tokyo bomb in WW II.
Museum is on 3F in shopping mall. It was hard for me to find it but at last I did find it. There is lot of boxes and ceramics and clothes and paintings. It’s pretty dark but I like it. Good atmosphere but not so many places to sit. Enjoy your visit.
Suntory museum of art. Located in midtown Tokyo Roppongi. Medium sized art space but it has many Master pieces of modern Japanese art like ceramic ware and Ukiyo e painting. Very quiet and clean.