One of the joys of visiting Tokyo's Nezu Museum in early May, is to catch the annual showing of one of the museum's most famous works, Ogata Korin's "Irises," before stepping outside to appreciate the real irises blooming in its garden.
This spring, Korin's "Red and White Plum Blossoms" from the MOA Museum of Art collection has been brought together with his "Irises" in a special exhibition to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the artist's death.
Titled "Irises and Red and White Plum Blossoms: The Secret of Korin's Design," the two folding screens, both of which are National Treasures, are being displayed side by side. It's a juxtaposition that seems synergistic, each playing off the other, and it aims to help viewers understand Korin's extraordinary design sense.
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