After spending his childhood in Hokkaido, Miyagi Prefecture native Churyo Sato (1912-2011) moved to Tokyo in 1932 to become a painter. However, once he saw the works of French sculptors Aristide Maillol (1861-1944) and Charles Despiau (1874-1946) while looking through art magazines, he decided to focus on sculpture.
His 70-year career as a sculptor, working primarily in bronze, began in 1934 at the Tokyo Art School (present-day Tokyo University of the Arts).
Sato passed away in March this year. This retrospective exhibition of his work celebrates and traces his career through a display of around 65 exhibits of sculptures and sketches; till Sept. 4.
Sagawa Art Museum, (077) 585-7800, 2891 Kitagawa, Minamata-cho, Moriyama-shi, Shiga; 15-min. bus ride from Katada Station, JR Kosei Line. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,000. Closed Mon., July 8-15, Aug. 22-26; open holidays and closed the following day. www.sagawa-artmuseum.or.jp.
