Grand opening of “Splendor of French Paintings” exhibit in Fukuoka

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the "Grande Manière” opened in grand fashion at the Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka prefecture. The opening ceremony, which took place on February 3, drew some 1,400 people.

“The Splendor of French Paintings” was organized by TFAM in homage to the renowned French art historian René Huyghe, who was pivotal in holding the museum’s premiere exhibition on Western paintings for its grand public opening in 1983. The Kyushu venue was sponsored by the Kyushu National Museum, Kyushu Prefectural Government, Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper, Mainichi Newspapers Co., Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting TV network and TFAM.

Kyushu National Museum Director Hiroyuki Shimatani delivered the opening speech and the organizers participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

PHOTO CAPTION: The exhibition’s tape cutting ceremony was held in Fukuoka on Feb. 3

Egyptian Museum of Berlin executive visits TFAM

On January 27, TFAM Director Akira Gokita welcomed Egyptian Museum of Berlin Deputy Director Olivia Zorn to the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. The two discussed possible cultural exchanges in which the German and Japanese museums could cooperate, with the TFAM director leading his guest on a guided tour of the exhibitions currently on display at TFAM and its facilities.

PHOTO CAPTION: Gokita (right) welcomes Egyptian Museum of Berlin Deputy Director Olivia Zorn

Special lecture held on French painter Poussin

On January 10, Prof. Takao Ito at Soka University’s Faculty of Letters gave a lecture on legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who later artistic greats such as Shakespeare and Beethoven featured in their works. Classical French Baroque style painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) also created a piece entitled “Coriolanus Pleaded with by His Wife and Mother.” The painting is one of the major pieces on display for the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière,’” currently on display.

PHOTO CAPTION: Prof. Ito (podium) held a lecture at TFAM on Jan. 10

Art appreciation for children: A year in review

As part of its outreach initiative, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has conducted programs to promote the appreciation of art among people of all ages, with a special focus on children. One such program caters to elementary and junior high school students enrolled in the city of Hachioji, a major suburb community of Tokyo which TFAM serves.

Under the program, TFAM hosted 2,144 students from 28 local schools over the calendar year of 2019, up from 1,684 kids from 20 schools in 2018. The curators are volunteers, either lecturers of or students taking university-level museum education courses.

TFAM also aims to provide its collected works and the museum itself as a center of learning to kindle the imagination and excitement of creativity by holding workshops, concerts, seminars and special summer vacation events. And it remains committed to this outreach initiative in service of the Hachioji and other communities in the Tokyo area.

South Korean envoy pays courtesy call

On December 20, Minister Lee Youngjo of the Republic of Korea Embassy and his wife paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. They were welcomed by TFAM Director Akira Gokita, who acted as a docent for the exhibitions currently on display, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière’” and “From the Renaissance to the 20th Century—500 Years of Western Paintings.”

PHOTO CAPTION: South Korean Embassy Minister Lee (center) and his wife

TFAM, local junior high host Tokyo art appreciation event

On December 6, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum and the Hachioji Daigo Junior High School hosted an art appreciation course for junior high school students in the local community. TFAM held a special program for 30 students from the Yui Junior High School in which printed material containing a photograph of a painting from the museum’s collection was distributed to participants at school prior to their visit. They were asked to look over the piece to create their own unique story regarding the art and write it down. They then came to see the actual work in person and share their stories with their peers.

PHOTO CAPTION: Above: Yui Junior High students at TFAM; Below: Students attending a museum education lecture

Local school kids view TFAM’s artworks

On November 26, some 60 fourth-grade students from the Hachioji Municipal Ongata Daiichi Elementary School took part in a field trip to the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum’s Permanent Gallery. After viewing the works, they attended a lecture provided by a volunteer curator who teaches a Museum Education course at nearby Soka University, at which the kids were asked questions (“How is the painting different from a photo of the same scene?”) to stipulate their powers of observation and unique perspectives.

PHOTO CAPTION: Above: Ongata Elementary School kids examining TFAM Permanent Gallery artwork; Below: Soka University lecturer showing students new ways to enjoy paintings

Dunhuang institute executive visits TFAM

On November 21, Vice-Director Luo Huaqing of the Dunhuang Academy visited the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. TFAM Director Akira Gokita and Executive Director Akira Kaneko were on hand to welcome him. They discussed the two institutions’ longstanding relationship, sharing episodes from the 1985 TFAM exhibition, “Treasures from Dunhuang, China.”

Following their talk, they viewed the exhibitions, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière’” and “From the Renaissance to the 20th Century—500 Years of Western Paintings.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Dunhuang Academy Vice-Director Luo (second from left) visited TFAM on Nov. 21

Colombian ambassador visits museum

On November 8, His Excellency Ambassador Santiago Pardo of the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. TFAM Director Akira Gokita welcomed the ambassador, who toured the exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’”

PHOTO CAPTION: Colombian Ambassador Pardo visited TFAM on Nov. 8

Uzbekistan university officials pay goodwill visit

On October 31, National University of Uzbekistan Rector Avazjon Marakhimov Rakhimovich, his wife Zamira Marakhimova and other university officials paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. The two were welcomed by TFAM Executive Director Akira Kaneko, who served as their docent in viewing the exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’”

PHOTO CAPTION: The National University of Uzbekistan Rector Marakhimov (center) led a university delegation to TFAM on Oct. 31