When the Teien Museum of Art reopened late last year, after a period of refurbishment and expansion, the exhibition held was no real test for either the main building or the newly added annex. The art of Rei Naito was so minimalist that it seemed as though it was hardly there.
For the second show since the reopening, the Teien is again avoiding a real test. Its latest exhibition, "Fantaisie Merveilleuse: Classicism in French Art Deco," is so aesthetically aligned with the style and look of the Teien — itself an art deco building — that the art can only complement what is already there.
For a real challenge the museum will probably have to wait for April's "Masks — Beauty of the Spirits" exhibition, which will adorn its walls with an eclectic array of masks from various tribal and traditional societies.