Art Jan 8, 2020

'Dumb Type': When actions speak the loudest

Dumb Type's thought-provoking performances and installations explore the influence of technology on humankind.

Art Oct 22, 2019

The glitz and glamour of the Liechtensteins

For "A Jewel Box from Europe: Treasures from the collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein," Bunkamura, The Museum, has brought over 120 pieces from the collection for a rare visit to Japan — only once before have items from the collection come to these ...

Art Jul 23, 2019

The art of play: Japan's history of fun

"Styles of Play: The History of Merrymaking in Art" at the Suntory Museum of Art delves into various amusements,with over 100 exhibits, ranging from the Muromachi Period (1392-1573) to the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Art May 7, 2019

Gustav Klimt: Behind all that glitters

Decorative gold surfaces and images of radiant women define the work of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) for many people. The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum's current exhibition, however, highlights lesser-known aspects of the Austrian artist's career, offering more insight into the man behind the works. Designed ...

Art Feb 19, 2019

Toshiko Okanoue gives us pieces of her mind

Despite being unaware of the surrealists in Europe, Toshiko Okanoue created collages that were so unusual for the 1950s, they caught the attention of Shuzo Takiguchi, the leader of Japan's surrealism movement.

Art Nov 13, 2018

Connecting Rubens and the Baroque

Suffering saints and sultry nudes — Peter Paul Rubens has them all. The Flemish painter (1577-1640) took on a variety of subject matter, and also had a hand in pushing predominant tastes from the Renaissance's revival of classical ideas to the more elaborate experiments ...

Art Jul 24, 2018

Jomon art: Japan's prehistoric charm

Fertile periods of artistic endeavor are not hard to come by in Japanese history. Many would cite the Edo, Muromachi or Heian periods. The Tokyo National Museum, however, reminds visitors of one era often forgotten — the ancient Jomon Period.

Art Jan 23, 2018

The explorations of Emperor Rudolf II

The strides in Western culture that took place around the 16th century are all too often associated with the Italian Renaissance, but other centers of learning in Europe deserve equal attention. Of note is Prague, where Rudolf II, the Holy Roman Emperor from the ...

Art Dec 5, 2017

Hokusai's great wave that swept Europe

Innovative, creative, and immensely prolific, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was celebrated during his lifetime in his native Japan. His works were among the first major examples of Japanese art to be widely appreciated overseas in the second half of the 19th century. "Hokusai and Japonisme" at ...

Art Oct 24, 2017

Motonobu: The father of Kano styles

A family-run enterprise, the Kano school of painting was a consistent force in Japan's art world for more than 300 years, from the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) up until its fortune waned in the 19th century. "Celebrating a Decade in Roppongi, Kano Motonobu: All Under ...