Pat's Blog

At the Takamatsu City Museum of Art there’s a very interesting show running until March 24th titled, ‘Welcome to the Small World’.
This is a wonderful encounter with 5 contemporary Japanese artists using ‘small’ as the thematic introduction to their art.



Small everyday articles, for example jewelry, cellphone accessory doo-dads, miniature furniture with candy decorations all worked in a way to take us visually, in to the artists’ worlds. The artists have incorporated & collaborated their art with the collection already in the gallery. I didn’t really get this, but that’s what they’ve said on the brochure.



Zon Ito: (male) has about 100 objects on display with the titles named. So rather than describe the works, I’d like anyone reading this and in town to go see for themselves as it’s an interesting piece.



Yoshiaki Kaihatsu: has tearooms, something traditionally associated with ‘small’ in Japanese culture. He’s made these from styrene blocks and the effect is great. Impermanence, the lowering of the head to enter the confined space, reflection in silence, all aspects of ego subjugation & part of the way-of-tea culture. And here we see it but in the form of styrofoam making things even more impermanent. But wait a minute? Styrofoam lasts for centuries I heard so maybe not so impermanent after all?



Yoshihiro Tsuda: Has placed flowers all over the gallery. Some are carved in wood, others located out of the line of sight.



Yuken Teruya: (male) has created works made with or from daily goods such as paper bags from fast-food shops. The artist is concerned with the economy, the environment and wants to turn people’s attention to the same.



Osamu Watanabe: These sculptures remind me of Jeff Koons an American artist famous for making objects that either reflect the banal, or are of themselves just banal. Depending on your feelings towards Koons. Colorful, and the media are food, sweets and fruit.



Please drop in and see this show as it’s a good ‘un and a precursor to the big Setouchi Triennale starting at the end of this month.

I’ll be back then with lots & lots of art news again soon so until then ..

‘Welcome to the World of Small’ Takamatsu City Museum of Art
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/sightseeing/sees/takamatsu-city-museum-of-art.html
Runs until March 24th.
Schedule: 3/16 The Concert 13:30~14:00/ entrance hall/ admission free
Sundays & public holidays.
Gallery Talks and explanations about the exhibits by volunteers in the gallery.
Starts. 11:00 and 14:00
3/23 ‘Lets Play with Art’ art appreciation for kids
9:00~11:00 at the lecture room on the 3rd floor.
First 15 free (ages from elementary school grades 3 to 6)
Application by phone: 087-823-1711
Coming attractions: Cheburushka and the animations in Rosia picture books
4/6~5/19
15 minutes on foot from Takamatsu JR Central Station.
Underground parking


              http://wikitravel.org/en/Takamatsu

http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/