Eight TFAM paintings on display in German museum

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has loaned eight Western paintings from its collection to the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany for its “Japan’s Love for Impression: From Monet to Renoir” exhibition.

TFAM director Akira Gokita attended the exhibition’s opening ceremony held in Bonn on October 7. Among the eight works on loan is “Promenade” by Edouard Manet.

City of Hachioji cites TFAM outreach initiatives

On October 1, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Hachioji municipal government for the Museum’s contributions to the community. The ceremony took place at the Hachioji Art and Culture Hall during an event to commemorate the anniversary of Hachioji City’s establishment as a municipality. TFAM Director Kenji Harashima received the certificate from Mayor Takashi Ishimori on the Museum’s behalf. This is the third consecutive year that TFAM has been cited for its outreach programs by the City.

TFAM director visits Taiwan’s National Palace Museum

On September 1, Akira Gokita, director of the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, led a goodwill delegation to the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taiwan, meeting with NPM President Feng Min-chu.

In their meeting, the two representatives of their respective museums agreed to take appropriate steps to promote cultural exchanges in the near future.

Italian Prime Minister meets with senior TFAM officials

Senior Tokyo Fuji Art Museum officials led by Executive Advisor Hiromasa Ikeda and Director Akira Gokita met with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of the Republic of Italy in Kyoto on August 4. The museum presented the Italian prime minister with a catalogue book of the exhibition, ““Leonardo da Vinci and The Battle of Anghiari: The Mystery of Tavola Doria,” that will begin its Kansai run at The Museum of Kyoto from August 22.

Prime Minister Renzi was in Japan to promote initiatives to further facilitate goodwill and exchange with Japan.

TFAM Loans an Art Work to “Modigliani: Legend of Montparnasse” Exhibition in Korea

A retrospective exhibition of the works of Amedeo Modigliani is being held at Hangaram Art Museum in Korea from June 26 to October 4, 2015. For the first time in Korea, this exhibition highlights the life and paintings of the artist known as “the legend of Montparnasse.”

The exhibition brings together Modigliani’s works from 20 different museums, including the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris and Musée National Picasso-Paris. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has loaned a portrait of Dr. Paul Alexandre for the exhibition.

To review the TFAM list of works on loan, please see:
http://www.fujibi.or.jp/en/our-collection/works-on-loan.html

From Hokusai to Hiroshige: Grand Masters of Ukiyo-e Art Opens in Brazil

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum opened the “From Hokusai to Hiroshige: Grand Masters of Ukiyo-e” exhibition at The Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba, Brazil on June 20.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Japan and the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the state of Paraná. The art exhibition was among the public events celebrating the occasion.

Seventy woodblock prints from TFAM collection, including the most iconic Ukiyo-e woodblock prints such as Katsushika Hokusai’s “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” and Utagawa Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations on the Tokaido,” were exhibited.

The opening ceremony—which began with an orchestral performance, followed by a message from Daisaku Ikeda, who founded TFAM—was attended by Governor of Paraná Paulino Viapiana. Other speakers at the event were its Kenichi Hirano, director of the Curatorial Department; Director-President and CEO of the Oscar Niemeyer Museum; Juliana Vosnika; and Congressman Luiz Nishimori.

In closing, the governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the holding of the exhibition. Sharing his hopes for the exhibition’s success, he remarked that the appreciation of art is at the essence of our humanity. TFAM secretariat Hiromasa Ikeda took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Leonardo da Vinci and The Battle of Anghiari: The Mystery of Tavola Doria” Opening Ceremony Held

On May 25, the opening ceremony for “Leonardo da Vinci and The Battle of Anghiari: The Mystery of Tavola Doria” was held at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Five hundred and fifty guests attended the event including his Excellency Domenico Giorgi, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Japan and Ugo Sorangni, representative of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and also director of Italian Museums.

“The Battle of Anghiari” is one of the largest mural projects undertaken by Leonardo da Vinci. It is ranked among the most ambitious decorative works in the history of Italian Renaissance art but never completed. Only tantalizing hints of what may have been are left for latter generations to marvel at, puzzle over and debate.

This exhibition received considerable media coverage before it opened.

Visitors at the special opening exhibition viewed the premiere of the “Tavola Doria,” a renowned oil painting believed to represent what was to be the central portion of da Vinci’s original mural, as well as his preparatory studies and sketches. Also included is a three-dimensional reproduction of “Tavola Doria.”

The exhibition runs from May 26 to August 9.

Three-Dimensional Sculpture of the “Tavola Doria” On Display

A three-dimensional sculpture of Leonard da Vinici’s famous “Tavola Doria” measuring 60cm by 40cm was constructed with the cooperation of Tokyo University of the Arts Professor Satoru Kitago and his team and is now on display at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.

The “Tavola Doria” painting depicts a key scene in the design for the mural of “The Battle of Anghiari,” with four warriors on horses in a deadly clash. The reproduction of this dynamic scene as a sculpture brings vividly to life da Vinci’s artistic excellence that has influenced so many artists then and now.

TFAM Director Lectures at the Opening of “Feast of Beauty: 300 Years of Western Painting” in Tokushima

On Wednesday, April 29, TFAM Director Akira Gokita gave a special lecture at the opening of the exhibition “Feast of Beauty: 300 Years of Western Painting From Baroque and Rococo to Ecole de Paris” at the Tokushima Modern Art Museum.

He spoke on the history of paintings featured in the exhibition and shared anecdotes related to them. The exhibition was held from April 29 to June 21 before moving to the Yawatahama City Gallery in Ehime Prefecture, where it will run from June 27 to August 30.

Robert Capa photo exhibition opens

On April 4 the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum opened “Robert Capa, the 101st Year: They All Adored Bob” exhibition, a retrospective on the life, works and legacy of the famed American photojournalist. In addition to Capa’s vintage photographs, the camera he was using when he was killed by a mine while covering the Vietnam War is also on display.