June 7-July 10
Perhaps best-known for his mind-boggling optical illusions, Maurits Cornelis Escher (M.C. Escher) illustrated books, designed postage stamps and produced close to 450 lithographs, woodcuts and engravings, and well over 2,000 drawings and sketches. His most famous works include the "Ascending and Descending" impossible staircase lithograph and his patterned prints of shape transformations.
This exhibition of 140 works includes 92 by Escher, 31 related artifacts and 17 prints by Samuel de Mesquita, another late 19th- and 20th-century leading graphic artist and Escher's teacher.
Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki; 666-1 Higashi-Kubo, Senbacho, Mito, Ibaraki. Mito Stn. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,190. Closed Mon. 029-243-5111; www.modernart.museum.ibk.ed.jp