TBS has been witness to the recent boom in Akasaka. Following the successful opening of Akasaka Sacas as an entertainment complex in March 2008, we continue to challenge ourselves with new ideas on what we can do to fully utilize the new Akasaka area and how to give something back to our home. Today, we are proud to announce that we will be hosting Akasaka Art Flower 08. With the support of a broadcasting station and the participation of several contemporary artists, our aim is to introduce people to the unique charm and fascination of art and to realize the hidden potential of Akasaka. This goal has now become the theme of this event and we believe that Akasaka Art Flower 08 will help Akasaka to be recognized as a new cultural center of Tokyo. We also believe that Akasaka Art Flower 08 will be a great opportunity for us to think once again about how broadcasting stations can co-exist with the community and art. TBS

The wall rising upright in front of us and the horizontal expanse of the ground under our feet are the two "planes" that comprise the foundation of our perception of the world. How have these "planes" been represented in the artistic "plane" embodied in paintings, photographs and prints? This exhibition attempts to examine, from the perspective of "the wall and the ground," pieces mainly from our collection, including those by Jean Dubuffet, Yuzo Saeki and Taiji Matsue. Curator's Talk by Kenji Miwa Location: Gallery 4, 2F (no reservation needed, admission ticket required). -August 29th (Fri), 18:00-19:00 -October 4th (Sat) 11:00-12:00 [Image: Yuzo Saeki "Gas Light and Advertisement" (1927)]

On April 28th, 1908, the first ship of emigrants to Brazil, the "Kasato-maru", left Japan and arrived at the Port of Santos after a two-month voyage on June 18th. This year marks the 100th anniversary since the beginning of a wave of Japanese emigration to Brazil, and a variety of commemorative events are taking place all over Japan. Organized by the Japan Brazil Art Center, this Japan-Brazil Friendship exhibition is being held at the Kawasaki City Museum, showcasing works by 17 Brazilian contemporary artists, as well as accessories, crafts and fashion items selected by Brazilian journalists, reflecting the life and culture of the nation from various angles. Also on view are works by veteran artists such as architect Oscar Niemeyer (who turned 100 this year), as well as 94 year-old Tomie Oe, who is still active in Brazil. Film screenings are scheduled as well. Related Events -Brazil Festa in Kawasaki Date & Time: September 20th (Sat) 10:00-18:00 Location: Museum courtyard -Brazilian Film Screenings Dates: September 23rd (Tue/Holiday), 27th (Sat), 28th (Sun) Location: Screening Hall Fee: Adults ¥600, Students & Seniors ¥500 *For screening schedule and more details, please visit museum website. [Image: Caito "Untitled"]

Since 2001, one of the key missions of Tokyo Wonder Site has been "Making Site", which attempt to provide emerging artists with the opportunity to experiment with their works. As a result, the TWS Aoyama: Creator-in-Residence program was founded in November 2006, enabling them to not only provide exhibition opportunities but also to realize total support for artists' process of production. This year, Tokyo Wonder Site will start cooperating with ARTSPACE Visual Arts Centre in Sydney with the aim of organizing exchange residency programs and exhibitions. Three groups of Japanese artists and three Australian artists have been working closely together as part of our residence and exchange project. The outcome will be a group exhibition which will be held in both Tokyo and Sydney. We are the ones who construct the city. Our individual thoughts and actions respond to each other, intersecting and causing chain reactions to form the city. The lines coming out of each individual go beyond the phases of various phenomena, expanding and shrinking personal territories in a non-linear manner, and finally configuring the complex structures of the city. Noises and distorted components are also representative characteristics of cityscape. At times, the cityscape recreates itself and evolves into a virtual site in the same way that we use the Internet on a daily basis. Traveling between Tokyo and Sydney, there will be an elaborate multi-layered diorama of the city installed at each venue. -Gallery Talk The participating artists will guide you through their artworks, followed by a talk explaining this collaborative project between Artspace and Tokyo Wonder Site. The contemporary art scene and its future will be discussed as well. Date:　September 14th (Sun) 16:00-18:00 (reservation not required)
 [Image: Gail Priest "Photo Series for the CD/ Imaginary Conversations in　Reverberant Rooms" (2006) Photograph by Heidrun Lohr]

Hokusai Katsushika is known around the world as a great master of ukiyo-e. Who were the successors to his "DNA", though? Although Hokusai had two sons, they did not carry on the legacy of his art. Perhaps the answer can be found with his daughters, who left behind some of their own paintings. In addition to these, there are over 80 known students and followers of Hokusai, but who among these can be said to be proper successors to Hokusai's style? Originally, because of the domineering fame of Hokusai himself, there was practically no attention paid to the work of his students. This exhibition puts the spotlight on these students in an attempt to seek out Hokusai's artistic DNA. The finest qualities of his followers can be seen not in the prints, but rather in the brushstrokes and actual painting. On display are works by 28 such students, exhibited alongside famous works by Hokusai (including two national treasures). Related events are also scheduled. See website for details.

Hiroshi Asada (1931-97), who studied from Western old masters, produced many paintings with psychological aspects which reveal anxiety and obsession in daily life. This is his retrospective exhibition, including many significant works selected from the full-scale retrospective held at the Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto last year.

Kanako Oya was born in Kanagawa in 1983. She graduated from the Master's program in art research at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008, and exhibited her work at Art Award Tokyo 2008. This is her second solo show at Gallery Jin, featuring around 15 new paintings. [Image: "Laundry Basket" (2008), acrylic and oil on panel, gouache, 530x455mm]

Showcasing about 30 watercolor paintings depicting the Yokohama and Shonan areas in vivid colors.

Featuring sketches that Kodama created during his trip to Europe, which have been made into postcards.

Tokusen Gallery -Kiyoshi Hara ceramics exhibition -Moritoshi Tokusawa ceramics exhibition Bijutsu Salon -Ijin Nishimura oil painting exhibition Art Square -August Rodin sculpture exhibition Craft Salon -100 years of contemporary ceramics exhibition

[Image: "Vertigo #2" H780xW555mm, homemade ink on kent paper]

Oct 5th (Sun)-Oct 11th (Sat) [ W:1-F ] Team Kuwasawa Students "Woodcut Monkeys '09" Woodcut prints Oct 6th (Mon) [ W:1-A ] Panoramadou "Handmade Accessories" Accessories and Fashion Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 9th (Thu) [ E:102 ] Dexter Fashion Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ W:1-D ] Nijiiro Camera & Acha & Eri "Misch Masch Girl's Sweetsb" Group: Photography and Accessories Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ W:2-A ] Peace House "Peace House301" Group: Painting, 3D, Graphic Design, Photography, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 9th (Thu)-Oct 15th (Wed) [ W:1-C ] An-Fill "Solo Exhibition vol.3" Accessories and Fashion Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:101-7 ] 4DM's 6/13 Group: Painting, 3D, Illustration and Figures Oct 10th (Fri )-Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:Kitchen ] Miki Yuasa "Momohime the World" Illustration, Photography, Accessories, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 14th (Tue)[ E:303 ] Hidenori Motai "Scenery and Color Map" Painting [Image: Peace House "Peace House301"]

-Yosuke Natsume Negoro Lacquer Exhibition Born as a sun of Arihiko Natsume in Nagano Prefecture in 1965, graduated from the graduate sculpture program of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music where he studied under Minoru Suzuki. Influenced by his father, he studied the tradition of Neguro and began his pursuit in contemporary Negoro lacquer. Around 100 tea ceremony equipments are on display. -Masakazu Miyanaga "The Wind of Poland"

Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ Art Piece ] Japone Piece! Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ W:1-A ] Nanako "Add 1 Suicide for Peaceful World." 3D and Illustration Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ W:1-G ] Mitsuyoshi Joshua Hirayama "It Forgot" Painting and 3D Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ W:2-B ] "Sen" 2 Artists: Illustration Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ W:2-C ] Daisuke Miyashita "Tokyo Good Weather" Painting and Installation Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ W:2-D ] Masaru Inoue "Design Festa Planet.06" Illustration Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ E:101-5 ] Mameco "Runway" Illustration Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu)[ E:202 ] Japone Panic Theater! Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 16th (Thu) [ E:203 ] Hariken 3D, Illustration, Accessories and Fashion Oct 11th (Sat) [ W:Garden ] YDC+α Performance Oct 11th (Sat)-Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:102 ] Fice no Akiba na Heya Performance Oct 11th (Sat)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ W:1-B ] Merienda "One Cushion" 2 Artists: 3D, Graphic Design, Photography, Accessories and Installation Oct 11th (Sat)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:101-4 ] Teketekebia Illustration and Photography Oct 11th (Sat)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:201,T-2 ] Obake Festa! "Kyofu" Haunted House Oct 11th (Sat)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:304 ] Answer/ Rehab/ Demp@holic Performance [Image: Mameco "Runway"]

Alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco are the world's four great stimulants, with a long history of giving pleasure to countless people, as well as a rich heritage of fostering and nurturing a wealth of culture. This exhibition, held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its opening, focuses on how these stimulants relate to the history and culture of Japan, how their use and production developed, and how they came to be adopted by the Japanese. In addition, the rapidly changing face of stimulant culture over the second half of the 20th century, through the sales of these goods in the world's 8 great "kiosks" of distribution, such as New York, Paris and Shanghai, has led to new forms of culture centered around these stimulants, which are also examined at this exhibition. Various other events that reflect on the history of these stimulants are scheduled for the duration of the exhibition. See website for details.

This exhibition of watercolors and ink paintings by Hiroshi Sugiyama commemorates the publication of the book "World Heritage Sites Depicted by Artists."

Kensuke Sasaki is an up-and-coming painter who won rave reviews at Art Fair Tokyo this April, as well as at the group exhibition "Zegahi no Kaiga" exhibition held at the Daiwa Press Viewing Room (Hiroshima). This is his much-anticipated first solo exhibition at Taro Nasu, featuring works with ornamental surfaces and wild brushstrokes that depict narrative elements that appear to conceal some deeper meaning. The paintings often involve discarded CD jackets, scenes from B-grade movies, girls that you seem to have seen somewhere before... However, the works seem to resist being titled, instead asking to be displayed with all its narrative and relational aspects removed. Although Sasaki says that he has no special feelings for the subjects he chooses for his painting, there must surely be something else that spurs him on in producing these works. This exhibition features not only Sasaki's paintings, but also his sculptures, all of which works taken together will form a large scale installation that uses the entire space of the Taro Nasu gallery in a way that cleaves to Sasaki's unique sensibility, appeal and contradictions as an artist. The 23-year old artist, fully in tune with currents in contemporary culture, reflects them in an often explosive way through his work, bypassing verbal communication in an effort to appeal directly to - and subsequently to betray - viewers.

[Image: "Jade Ts'ung tube" oil 162×130.5cm]

[Image: "Natural Dream" (2007) oil on canvas]

[Image: "Summer with Kojiro (detail)" (2007) oil on canvas 24 × 67cm]

[Image: "Reflection 08-9" (2008) oil on canvas 91 × 72.5cm]

Since his first solo exhibition, "Start Up," held at Gallery Watatu in Kenya ten years ago, Shiino has done live painting performances with musicians at Mazembe in Nairobi and other locations. This exhibition marks the 10th year (Maisha Africa) of his work, filling the space of the venue with the people, sounds and animals encountered on his travels.

Sakamoto is an up-and-coming young artist who graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts only this year, but has already won much acclaim at his graduation and group exhibitions. Sakamoto's paintings would ordinarily perhaps be classed as imaginary world paintings, but they almost possess a symbolism of their own. This is not an ethical or logical system of signs as per the ancient Western artistic tradition, bur rather a sort of post-manga form of expression that is different from either Surrealism or Pop. Sakamoto's images seem to drift and wander, but they have been fictionalized by the money game and the art market, linking us to the real world of uncertainty, reflecting military unease, for instance. Casting a sidelong glance at the ways of the world, taking slight and ironic jabs that are more well-meaning than dark. Born in 1985, Sakamoto is part of a new generation that carries on from the Noughties J pop generation of artists, with a distinct style even this early on in his career. Although often compared to other "girly painting" artists, Sakamoto says that "even if I draw girls, they are in fact a kind of self-portrait." This is the first solo exhibition of this immensely talented next-generation artist. One to watch!

[Image: "Series Sorane 4" oil and acrylic on canvas M6]

From the museum collection, a total of 60 paintings (master poet paintings and fragments of picture scrolls), written documents (calligraphy and old sutras) and ceramics from Li Dynasty Korea will be on display. -Special Exhibition National Treasure "Murasaki Shikibu Diary Picture Scroll" Dates: October 11th (Sat)-19th (Sun) -Museum Talk Children Art Lecture "Murasaki Shikibu, Diary and Picture Scroll" Dates & Times: October 13th (Mon, Holiday)/ October 18th (Sat) 14:00-15:00 (Doors open at 13:30) Location: Gotoh Museum Annex Auditorium *Free Admission/ 100 seats (first-come-first-served basis) *Aimed at elementary and junior high school students.

This exhibition features works by three contemporary Argentinian artists.

The search for an individual style has unfolded and evolved with great vigor throughout the history of modern and contemporary art. Consider the Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir, who looked beyond traditional painting in search of new forms of art, or Paul Cézanne, whose work was a major influence on the birth of Cubism. Explore Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, constant leaders in 20th century art. Then there came the birth and evolution of Abstract art. Rethink Western-style artists in Japan who, while mastering the techniques and themes of Western art, struggled with the challenge of establishing, as Japanese artists, their own voices and styles. This exhibition of 180 paintings and sculptures from the Bridgestone Museum of Art collection offers a delightful stroll, room by room, through these historic developments in the world of art. [Image: Claude Monet "Twilight, Venice" (c. 1908)]

This exhibition will be held during the Art-Link weeks. http://artlink.jp.org/

Group exhibition by college and graduate students in Ibaraki.

"Western Art - Impressionism to Delvaux" Works by Impressionist painters such as Monet and Pissaro, as well as Picasso and Delvaux. "Bewildering Landscapes" From works consisting of mirroring images and optical illusions to conceptually inquisitive paintings and sculptures. "Tiger Tateishi's Wonderland" Humorous world of Tateishi expressed in painting, printmaking, and design. "Kokuta Suda - Abstract World" Abstract watercolor paintings by Kokuta.

Promo-Arte will be holding a special solo exhibition of Brazilian artist James Kudo. We are proud to announce that this event is being held to celebrate the long relationship that Promo-Arte has developed with Brazilian artists of Japanese descent. Most importantly, this event will mark the 100th anniversary of cultural exchange between the two nations.

See website for details of gallery talk and workshop.

5th Reunited Exhibition Showcasing approximately 40 oil paintings by 14 young artists. -Location: Exhibition Rooms on 1F -Time: 10:00-19:00. Opens at 13:00 on the first day and closes at 17:00 on the last day. 8th Jin-Jin Group Exhibition Approximately 120 oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and nihon-ga paintings will be on view. -Location: Exhibition Rooms on 2F -Time: 10:00-17:00. Opens at 13:00 on the first day and closes at 16:00 on the last day. -Contact: Azamino YM Painting Group 045-902-8301

TWS-Emerging is part of Tokyo Wonder Site's support program for young artists. It hosts yearly solo exhibitions by promising young artists, who are selected after a screening of 100 prize-winning artists from Tokyo Wonder Wall. This year, 19 artists were selected and will hold solo exhibitions. This year's 5th round is "Internal Flower -Continuity Solids-" by Tomoya Hioki, "Superman Descending to Earth" by Hirokazu Ishii and "Hokke Sutra Fond d'agneau" by Shinpei Sasada. -Artist Talk: September 27th (Sat) 16:00-17:00 -Networking Event: September 27th (Sat) 17:00-19:00 -Related Presentation @ TWS Art Cafe Kurage From the upcoming TWS-Emerging exhibition, you can also enjoy works by Tomoya Hioki, Hirokazu Ishii and Shinpei Sasada at TWS Art Cafe Kurage. Date: September 18th (Thu) - October 2nd (Thu) Time: 10:00-23:30 Venue: TWS Art Cafe Kurage [Image: Tomoya Hioki "Internal Flower" (2007) iron, cloth]

This 39th edition of the Nichido exhibition comes one year after the gallery celebrated its 80th anniversary, and it now looks forward to its 100th. On display are outstanding works by around 140 modern artists focusing mostly on Showa-kai members.

In addition to its rapid economic growth, China has gained much attention not only for the Beijing Olympics, but also for its contemporary art scene, which has made waves across the world. Since the period of reform and open-door policies dating from the 1970s, China saw new modes of expression emerge that were entirely different from socialist realism. Then, in 1979, the Star Painting Group held an exhibition that set a precedent for a new type of artistic activity whose focus was on the individual characteristics of each artist. Around the mid-1980s, a variety of avant-garde groups formed all over China, leading to the famed "85 Art Movement". Against a backdrop of information flows from Western Europe, these groups of artists took on domestic social themes, expressing them through various media ranging from painting, sculpture, performance and installation. At the beginning of the 1990s, a series of artists gained international attention through the art movements "political pop" and "cynical realism", after which more radical forms of art emerged. Thus, with accompanying globalization movements from 2000 onward, Chinese contemporary art has come to be recognized as a quintessential phenomenon that symbolized the opening up of the nation as well as its booming art market. Showcased at this exhibition are works by both well-established and up-and-coming artists, reflecting 20 years of Chinese contemporary art history in their individual ways. [Image: Fang Lijun "Series 2 No.3" (1992) oil on canvas, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Collection]

Dani Karavan, born in Israel in 1930, has been making large scale sculptures that harmonize and blend in with the surrounding environment for many years. He is a remarkable artist with a worldwide reputation. This is an international traveling exhibition that also goes to Israel and Germany. It offers visitors an overview of Karavan's entire career, from his early oil paintings and illustrations (being shown for the first time) to the relief paintings and site-specific sculptures. Karavan will also create a special installation tailored to the exhibition space of the Setagaya Art Museum. [Image: Murou Art Park, "Art Forest" (2006)]

Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:101-1 ] UhBee "Melty Love" 2 Artists: 3D, Illustration, Graphic Art and Photography Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:101-2 ] Kamatagumi "Arc" 2 Artists: Painting, Illustration and Graphic Design Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:101-6 ] TumoriDX "Deluxe Character Exhibition" 3D, Illustration and Accessories Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 14th (Tue) [ E:101-3 ] Funky, Cool Character Designers "Cuty Cool Kiddies" Group: Illustration Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 18th (Sat) [ W:1-F ] Yokoshima "Monochrome" Group: Graphic Design, Photography and Calligraphy Oct 15th (Wed)-Oct 21st (Tue) [ W:1-D ] What Do You Like ? Group: Painting, Photography, Fashion, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 16th (Thu)-Oct 17th (Fri) [ W:2-E ] Kazuya Watanabe Exhibition Painting Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 19th (Sun) [ W:1-C ] Luluco "Matsuge wo Yomareru" Painting, Illustration, Accessories and Picture books Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 20th (Mon) [ W:1-A ] Kozi69 "Rock, Stock & Red Check Revolutions" Illustration Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 22nd (Wed) [ W:1-G ] Akitsugu Sugisaki Exhibition Painting [Image: Kozi69 "Rock, Stock & Red Check Revolutions"]

Gallery Beaux is pleased to anounce Akitomo Tsuchiya's first solo exhibition in Tokyo. Tsuchiya was awarded the Grand Prix Award at the 8th Ryohei Koiso Triennial Grand Prize Exhibition in 2007. On view at this exhibition are about 20 paintings, including "The Altar," the piece submitted to the 6th Ryohei Koiso Biennial Grand Prize Exhibition, as well as recent oil and watercolor paintings. Deploying impeccable techniques and a unique sense for color, he represents miniatures of a new era. At the age of 32, Tsuchiya was inspired by the work of Andrew Wyeth and began to paint. Then he decided to go to the U.S. to explore the fine arts. After years of training in classic realism in Minnesota, he returned to Nagano, Japan, where he currently resides with his wife and two children, to keep pursuing his career as painter. His experiences in Minnesota have had a profound effect on his paintings. With a tremendous degree of accuracy, Tsuchiya paints with an almost obsessive level of attentiveness to detail. "Painting something is the same as feeling something. I try to convey what I felt about my subjects," says Tsuchiya. At times his paintings have strong social messages, as seen in "The Walls," which won the Grand Prix Award at the 8th Ryohei Koiso Triennial Grand Prize Exhibition. "We feel the presence of various kinds of 'walls' or 'barriers,' whether they are historical, social or individual. I want to attain the power needed to overcome such walls." Tsuchiya's message carries a positive meaning here. We can see a flicker of hope for the future, rather than the typically pessimistic shadows that lurk in his work, regardless of the medium he chooses. [Image: "The Altar (detail)" (2002) oil on canvas　42x63in]

Fresh into a new century, rapid globalization raises dramatic questions about what we believe our identities to be. What are the roots of our identities? Come and see some answers proposed by an insightful young emerging Asian generation. This is the 9th installment of a series started in 2000. As an extension program of the series, there will be presentations by the artists held in New York in March 2009. The venue for this event is planned to be in one of the hottest areas of the New York art scene: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9/29 (Mon)-10/4 (Sat) Part I Group Exhibition Fuyutoshi Sekine, Reina Miyamoto, Mayumi Oshima, Nao Kimura, Shin Yanagisawa, Satoko Yamaya 10/6 (Mon)-10/11 (Sat) Part II Two Persons Exhibition Sunao Ozono "Phantom Festival" Wakako Matsushita "Lotophagi" 10/13 (Mon)-10/18 (Sat) Part III Solo Exhibition Yosuke Inoue "Then They Came" 10/20 (Mon)-10/25 (Sat) Part IV Solo Exhibition Yoko Otani "Ohoyashimaguni" [Image: Mayumi Oshima]

[Image: "King of the Forest 1" (2008) 116.7x90.9cm, mixed media]

Kopis string quartet concert from 18:00 on October 12th (Sun).

Michael van Ofen’s paintings are portraits and landscapes consisting of a minimum of brushstrokes. While there are only a few elements to be found on his painterly plane, his very carefully controlled brushstrokes, composition of colors and light make us find ourselves feeling as if our imagination had taken flight to rediscover the most universal motif found in Western painting. In fact, van Ofen’s work often finds its sources in classical works from the 18th century onwards. His work entitled "Horatier" (2003) is based on the "Oath of the Horatii" painted in 1784 by Jacques Louis David, a Neoclassicist painter. Van Ofen’s paintings only show beautiful straight lines in high contrast, but those who had seen the David’s work could probably be reminded of the particular work. His portraits, landscapes and still life paintings are all inheritors of a genre with a long and venerable history. The mere stroke of a brush on his canvas suggests light falling on the face and the clothing of a person, or the slopes of mountains. Despite the minimalist mode of expression that could also be described as "abstract painterly," van Ofen’s figurative world is full of painting's abundant possibilities. This is van Ofen’s first solo show in Japan. We will be showing 6 new paintings.

From her early period up until today, Ryoko Kato's works have presented a vision of a world that keeps becoming a less and less inhabitable place, but one in which we nonetheless will surmount and continue to make our way in - this has been the consistent message of her art. This message is voiced not in a loud, clamorous voice, but instead blends quietly into the background of all her other works. Kato's characters stubbornly continue spreading this message in various settings, especially the little girls with chimneys sticking out of their behinds... Kato's recent works take as their motif the North Pole and polar bears in an effort to tackle issues of environmental pollution and lifeforms and organisms that may soon perish as a result. The characters in these works seem filled with a certain despair, but at the same time one can read a certain survivor's resolve to carry on living right until the end in their expressions. The title of the exhibition, "Kakame", is an archaic term for both mirror and snake - the mirror being a metaphor for Kato's vision of the world as seen through the mirror of her gaze. Kato sees a certain duality and pantheism in Japan's vernacular culture, symbolized by the god of mercury that is simultaneously a poison as well as a cure for it. This solo exhibition, Kato's first in two years, remixes contemporary and ancient conceptions of this dualistic notion of a mirror (and snake), mingling a sense of both hope and despair.

Shintaro Ohata is an artist with a unique touch who captures all sorts of light in his work: light at dawn, light at dusk, city lights by night. A certain wistfulness and longing for somewhere permeates Ohata's painting, inexplicably attracting all sorts of viewers to the scenes and objects depicted in his world, regardless of nationality of gender, appealing to audiences with a wide range of ages. Ohata was voted most popular artist at this year's international 101 Tokyo Art Fair, while also designed book covers. This exhibition features Ohata's new paintings.

Born in Münster, Germany in 1958, painter Stephan Baumkotter constructs his surface through his unique process of layering oil stick and monochromatic paint. This is his first solo exhibition in Japan.

Brilliance, grace and sophistication are key elements in defining the aesthetics of modern Japan. Inheriting the great tradition of Japanese art, Shoen Uemura, Kaii Higashiyama and other artists of the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras worked earnestly to develop distinctive styles of their own demonstrated here. 20th century masterpieces of the Idemitsu Collection are shown together for the first time in this exhibition. Exhibited together with these works are selected masterpieces by Sengai. [Image: Candle Light Uemura Shoen Dated 1937 Idemitsu Museum of Arts]

The island nation of England developed while occupying a unique place in European history, and the sphere of painting is no exception. This is nowhere more true that in the field of modern landscape painting, to which area England's contribution has been considerable. In modern Japan, too, there was a group of painters with a strong yearning and inclination towards modern English landscapes, whose work forms an important component of this museum's collection, which focuses mostly on landscapes from the 17th century onwards. This exhibition from the permanent collection presents Japanese yoga paintings related to England by artists such as Katsumi Miyake and Chuji Kuribara as an appropriate companion exhibition to the "Twelve Travels" exhibition of English art. Related events are also scheduled. See website for details.

At the age of 11, John Everett Millais (1829-1896) became the youngest pupil ever to be admitted to the School of Royal Academy of Arts. However, he got soon tired of the classes and the outdated customs of the Academy, and in 1848 he founded the "Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood" with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt. Millais played a central role in this group, which caused a veritable artistic revolution in Britain. This exhibition brings together some of his most representative works, such as Ophelia and Christ in the House of His Parents, borrowed from Tate Britain and other important collections in and outside the United Kingdom. Ranging from oil paintings to sketches and from work he produced in his teens to paintings from the end of his life, it presents a full and comprehensive view of the artist's career, making this event the first real retrospective Millais exhibition in Japan. [Image: "Ophelia" (1851-2), oil on canvas, from the Tate Collection]

Showcasing works of retiring teachers from practical field. -Gallery Talk Date & Time: October 6th (Mon) 13:20-14:50 Guests: Tsuyoshi Shigi, Natsuki Takama

The publication "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden" saw contributions by Bakin Kyotei (1767-1848) over a long period stretching from 1814-1842, during which time he created the longest ever collection of Japanese romance fiction (denki shosetsu), numbering some 98 episodes over 106 books. Before long, the publication was taken as a subject for the kabuki theater, and numerous ukiyo-e woodblock prints were also made on the topic. In a sense, the Hakkenden provided a deft cultural summary and compendium of the late Edo period. The popularity of this work continues unchanged to this day, and it is often used as material for art, literature, manga, film and theater. 2008 marks the 160th anniversary of the passing of Bakin. This exhibition focuses on works from the Hakkenden ukiyo-e collection of Jin Hattori, introducing viewers to the world of Hakkenden through archive materials, modern nihonga painting, contemporary kabuki theater, shojo manga and so on.

Travel: leaving behind everyday routine to experience different places and times, making fresh discoveries and chancing upon unexpected surprises that linger in one's memory. This exhibition features around 170 works in a wide variety of media including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and video by 12 English artists from the 19th century up to the present day. These works explore the theme of travel, of past memories, and the reminiscence of time "travel". Please visit exhibition website for more details. [Image: David Nash, "Walking Ladder", Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of Art]

After a stellar track record in the worlds of graphic design and printmaking, Shu Goto then turned to painting. Using a special technique called splashing, Goto makes all-over works with multiple layers, holding solo exhibitions in museums both in Japan and abroad, as well as the flagship Takashimaya in Nihonbashi. In 2005, he suddenly returned to his hometown where he took over a decrepit former school building and took his artistic activities in new directions, based in a mountainous environment with freezing winters and short summers. The quaint, wistful atmosphere and scent of the wind prompted Goto to add an additional layer of richness and depth to his "cosmic fabrics." Kawaguchi Art Factory, which carries the traces of this city of cupolas, is a place of hidden creative energies where complex, dense memories have accumulated. Public demonstration by Shu Goto: October 12th (Sun) 14:00~

Yasuyuki Nishio is known for his large-scale paintings and sculptures of girls, as well as his paintings of ghosts and dead female figures. Celebrating the publication of his artist book, this exhibition presents Nishio's new works. Centering on Nishio's explorations of the origin of his expressive Eros, Giantis, this exhibition also presents his new works that are available in limited editions. October 11th (Sat) Yasuyuki Nishio x Taku Tanigawa Talk Event Free entry

Impressionism was an artistic movement born in France in the latter half of the 19th century. Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) was a central figure of the movement, painting landscapes and the countryside and the simple, rural folk who made their livings there. Pissarro was the only painter who participated in all 8 editions of the Impressionist exhibition, and was looked up to and adored as a father figure and educator for many artists. In addition, he taught painting to his five sons, who then went on to work as artists of the Eragny school. One of them, Lucien, spent many years in England contributing to the development of neo-Impressionism, founding his own private printing workshop, leaving behind several spectacular print works. Lucien also made several collaborative works with his father Camille. Correspondence and related works pertaining to the production of the illustrations for one of them, "Daphnis et Chole," are on display at this exhibition. Drawing from the collection of the oldest museum in England founded in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University, this exhibition focuses on works by the Pissarro family of painters that were donated to the museum after Lucien's death, works by Corot, Millais, Daubigny and other members of the Barbizon school, all of whom had an influence on Pissarro's style, as well as painters from the same era like Courbet, Manet and Renoir.

Born in Minowa Village in Gunma Prefecture (now Misato Town in Takasaki City), Kaoru Yamaguchi (1907-1968) grew up amid abundant nature during his childhood and then started pursuing a career as a painter. After studying at Tokyo Art School (now Tokyo University of the Arts) and also in France, he became involved with the formation of the Free Art Association and Modern Art Association as a member of Chuo Gadan, devoting himself to the creation of Japanese-style yoga (western) paintings. Pastoral landscapes, trees and water against a red backdrop, the moon, horses... Yamaguchi poured his imagination onto the canvas through the depiction of the nature around him, in rich colors and forms. His unique style of expression was formed during the pre- and postwar periods, when art went through a sea change, through his constant efforts to tackle the possibilities of figurative art, in search of a style of his own. By displaying about 90 paintings according to shifts in his painting style, this exhibition aims to trace Yamaguchi's artistic endeavors at different points throughout his career. [Image: "Figure of Flower" (1937) Collection of Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art Kahitsukan]

Niwa Arisa's blog (in Japanese only): http://ameblo.jp/mughiko

Part 1 October 6th (Mon) - 11th (Sat) Mitsuo Kano "Lightening Catcher" drawings 1977 Part 2 October 14th (Tue) - 18th (Sat) Susumu Miyazaki, Koichi Tanikawa, Tatsuo Ikeda, Shinya Hitsuda, Yoshishige Furukawa, Setsuo Kasumi, Tsunemasa Takahashi Part 3 October 20th (Mon) - 25th (Sat) Haruna Tokimatsu, Naho Yamaguchi, Mari Ota, Manika Ryu, Etsuko Iwao Part 4 October 27th (Mon) - November 1st (Sat) Yuji Noda Works 1984-1988 [Image: Mitsuo Kano, "Catcher of Lightening IV" (1977) encaustic on paper 107x78cm]

With the cooporation of gallery Zenshi, this exhibition entitled "Chocolats des Fuchu" features works by artists who have exhibited their works at Loophole before, as well as artists represented by Zenshi. Enjoy the rich flavorful works by these contemporary artists.

Born in Kofu, Yamanashi in 1913, Hideo Hagiwara studied oil painting at Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko (current Tokyo University of the Arts) starting in 1933 and thereafter pursued a career as a painter. In 1953, he became ill and had to spend a period of time in bed. At the end of the year, he made new year's postcards using woodblock printmaking methods. Since then, printmaking grew to become part of his practice, and he created new year's postcards in this way every year for over half a century. Later, he received a number of awards at various international print exhibitions, and established his career internationally. As a representative printmaker of the postwar era, he continued his practice but passed away last year on November 4th, at the age of 94. Musashino City holds around 550 works by Hagiwara. Many of them were donated by the artist himself, and helped form a major collection of the city. This retrospective exhibition commemorates his passing, and is held at the main gallery space of the museum as well as the Hideo Hagiwara Memorial Museum. This exhibition was made possible through the support of the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum as well as his family and friends. In addition to his woodblock prints, oil, watercolor, and sumi ink paintings as well as collages are on view at this exhibition. [Image: "Fuji" (tentative title) year unknown, collage, private collection]

Hatch Art is organizing a group exhibition of 6 artists on the theme of red, a color rich in symbolism and associations. Like Hatch Art's previous exhibitions "Happy Hours" and "Yokohama Boogie," the interpretation of the exhibition theme has been left up to each artist to handle as they wish. Together with the organizers and visitors to the exhibition, the color red will hopefully take on new shades of meaning. October 12th (Sun) 14:00-16:00 Artist Talk For more information contact: Hatch Art ZAIM 406, Nihon Odori 34, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture hatchart@gmail.com

Inspired by old painting techniques, Jose Maria Sicilia is a representative contemporary Spanish artist known for his large-scale series of paintings of flower and butterfly motifs on top of a base coat of beeswax. Sicilia was born in Madrid and now lives and works in Paris and Mallorca, and exhibits his work in Madrid, Paris, London and New York. Continuing on from his large-scale solo exhibition held at the Nagasaki Prefecture Museum of Art in August, this show at Tokyo's Tamada Projects will be Sicilia's second solo exhibition in 9 years. In addition to the aforementioned beeswax series of paintings, a series of drawings on Japanese washi paper and other new works using Japanese materials will be on display. 50% of each entry ticket sold will be shared and donated to humanitarian medical NGO Médecins Du Monde and art-related Non-Profit Gadago, the organization running Tokyo Art Beat.

The Tale of Genji, a Japanese classic of world literature, was based on the observations recorded in Lady Shikibu Murasaki's diary, and read at the imperial court of the 5th year of the Kanko era (1008). 2008 marks the 1000 year anniversary of this historical work, and the museum is holding a special exhibition to commemorate the millenary of the Tale of Genji. Related events are also scheduled. See website for details.

Gallery Talk on October 18th (Sat), 19:00

From the 19th century to the early 20th century, the Avant-Garde art movement emerged in Paris and spread throughout Europe. After WWII, it spread across the ocean and flourished in America. This exhibition traces the history of the movement through selected works from the collection of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center of Vassar College. Vassar College was established in upstate New York in 1861. Jacqueline Kennedy and Meryl Streep are among famous alumni of the school. Vassar was the school where a Japanese student was sent for the first time through the sponsorship of the Meiji government. The art center, named after Frances Lehman Loeb, a graduate of the school who donated the building that houses it, contains 17,000 works. The collection is infused with perspectives on art history education that are unique to Vassar. [Image: Jorge O'Keeffe "Blue Morning Glories, New Mexico II"]

"Annette Messager: The Messengers" is the first major solo exhibition for leading French artist Annette Messager to be held in Japan. Painting, photography, articles, objects assembled from found objects, words, stuffed animals, plush toys, fabrics, embroidery, thread and knitting: these and many other objects from everyday life have found their way into the art of Annette Messager since she began working in the 1970s. Keeping her work based firmly in everyday life, Messager explores the various dichotomies and contradictions inherent in the human condition: religion and secularity, humor and fear, love and pain, woman and man, animal and human, childhood and adulthood, life and death, surface and substance. Springing perhaps from meditations on impulsive collecting or the body, from games with plush toys, or from clever wordplay, Messager's art possesses both a childlike innocence and a brutality that afford multiple readings. With a flair for incorporating wry humor into even the most direct confrontations with negative aspects of human endeavor, Messager is able to move and delight people of all generations. Charming and fantastical, and at times taking strange and mysterious forms, Messager's art works are "messengers" that talk directly to our souls. This exhibition was originally shown at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and has toured to Finland and Korea. The roughly 30 works on show include Casino, for which the artist won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2005, and other important works such as articulated-disarticulated.

Matazo Kayama (1927-2004) was the son of a Nishijin textile designer, and grew up surrounded by beautifully-colored patterns and drawings as a child. Early in his teenage years, Kayama had already revealed his talent. Yet he chose not to pursue a career as a Kyoto painter, which would have bound him to certain traditions. Instead, he chose to study at Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko (the current Tokyo National University of the Arts). Growing up with a deep consciousness and understanding of the sublimity of the nihonga tradition in Kyoto, he craved new directions in the medium. Aware of tradition and yet determined to pursue something new, Kayama attempted to visualize his own world. His practice was not limited to nihonga, but also copper printmaking, which some praise more than his painting, as well as lithography and woodblock printmaking, on which he collaborated with skilled printmakers. This exhibition is divided into sections featuring decorative art, printmaking, ceramics and painting, exploring his creations from different angles. Sketches, drawings and various artifacts that are rarely shown in public are also on display, giving viewers a deeper understanding of his world. Talk Events -September 28th (Sun) 13:00 Discussion of Matazo Kayama's lithographs Lecturer: Kihachi Kimura -October 11th (Sat) 14:00 "Matazo Kayama, father and artist" Lecturers: Tetsuya Kayama (ceramicist), Eriko Kayama (painter)

Asa Go was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978 and currently resides in Tokyo. "The Self and the Other" is the main theme of her work. Using warm and soft colors, she often depicts a girl as the reflection of herself, and rabbits as the "Others." She explores questions surrounding identity in her painting, asking what the self means, and how it relates to the other. Some of her work provokes a helpless sense of uncertainty, or a sense of isolation; and yet it communicates honest and pure feelings which we are all familiar with. Go has recently focused on deepening her exploration of the relationship between the Self and the Other, focusing on aspects of how these two notions come together and are differentiated from each other. Through this residency, she aims to share her imagination and fantasy with others. Her paintings and sculptures will be on view at the studio space in the museum,. She will hold a "house party" at the workshop where participants can create their own imaginary creatures. Artist Talk November 2nd (Sun), 14:00 Lecture Hall Free, no reservation required. Workshop "Let's Create Imaginary Animals" September 21st, 28th (Sun). 10:30-16:30 Imagine your other "self" and create a character using clay. Completed works will be displayed along with her work. For elementary school students and older. Capacity: 20 people Fee (for the materials): ¥1000 Send a reply-paid postcard with your name, address, age, and phone number to the museum "Asa Go" workshop personnel by September 4th (Thurs). [Image: "My Territory" (2008) Oil on canvas]

The Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art changes its permanent collection display four times a year. The current exhibition in the main building presents works by nihon-ga artists Shodo Anayama, Yako Okouchi, Harue Mochizuki and more, all of whom depicted autumn scenery and customs. Also on display are still life paintings by Koichiro Kondo and Shoko Kawasaki. In the Western art gallery, portraits and prints by various painters, as well as works by Millet and other Barbizon school painters are on display.

Every autumn we present "Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy", which features works from the Museum's collection and pieces from other collections in the Museum's custody. Chinese calligraphy and paintings have been imported to Japan for a long time, and these works have had a large impact on Japanese art. A particular example of this would be the influence of works from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, which were introduced together with Zen Buddhism following the Kamakura period (1192-1333). Placed in studies and tea rooms, these works provided the basis of a new way to appreciate the arts in Japan. Among the renowned Higashiyama Gomotsu Collection, which was part of the shogun's collection of art objects and books. during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), are works of representative Chinese calligraphy that can no longer be found in China. Since the Meiji period (1868-1912) the Japanese intellectuals have strived to follow the traditional tastes of learned Chinese, so they imported many masterpieces of Chinese painting and calligraphy. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to see these masterpieces from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

First half: September 13th (Sat) - October 5th (Sun) Second half: October 11th (Sat) - November 3rd (Mon/holiday)

The Yokohama Museum collects work according to the following collection objectives. The number of pieces in the collection stands at about 9,500 as of April 1st, 2007. (1) Works that trace the mutual influence of modern European and Japanese art on each other since the opening of the port of Yokohama (2) Works that offer a bird's eye view of the development and course of contemporary art, and that clearly illuminate its issues (3) Representative works of photography that make up one field of modern art (4) Works that contributed to the development of modern Japanese art, including those under the patronage of Sankei Hara and were associated with Tenshin Okakura (5) Works by representative artists　associated with Yokohama (6) Contemporary crafts, design, architecture and video The Yokohama Museum Collection Exhibition is spread out over three parts per year, displaying works from the permanent collection in exhibition halls 1, 2, 3, as well as the photography gallery. *Some galleries will be closed for exhibition maintenance from August 18th-22nd (Mon-Fri). Until the exhibition reopens on the 23rd, the scale of the exhibition will be reduced. Thank you for your understanding.

-Tesshi Nagano Ichimon Exhibition Metal works such as teapots created by Tesshi Nagano, Kaoru Eta and Arata Nagano are on display. They employ Tatara metalworking techniques that use traditional Japanese iron sand. Around 30 works are on display and for sale. -Mutsuo Ishiwatari Oil Painting Exhibition

Bauhaus, the design school, is known for their revolutionary educational system. This exhibition presents works by the famous professors who taught at Bauhaus, such as Itten, Albers, Klee, and Kandinsky as well as student works and photographs of schools back then.