Warehouse TERRADA operates not only PIGMENT TOKYO but also various art-related facilities in Tennoz Isle, including WHAT MUSEUM, WHAT CAFE, and TERRADA ART COMPLEX.
This time, WHAT MUSEUM and PIGMENT TOKYO organized a collaborative event, "Explore Contemporary Japanese Art - Suminagashi Experience and Museum Tour".
WHAT MUSEUM is currently holding the exhibition "Open to the Public: Masayoshi Nojo's "Immerse yourself in the transitory nature," from April 28 to August 27, 2023, which features Nojo's new series, ‘Links "Evergreen"’ and an exhibition of his representative works.
With this exhibition, WHAT MUSEUM and PIGMENT TOKYO organized an event together titled "Explore Contemporary Japanese Art - Suminagashi Experience and Museum Tour".
This event is only possible in Tennoz Isle, a city of art, where visitors can experience a workshop by Nojo at PIGMENT TOKYO and visit WHAT MUSEUM with the artist and the exhibition planner in attendance.
Firstly, this event was started with Nojo’s Suminagashi workshop. Suminagashi is one of traditional techniques to transfer marbling patterns created by dropping Sumi ink or colors on the surface of water onto paper. It was originally one of the court games in which people enjoyed the changes of patterns created by dropping Sumi ink on the surface of the floating river water.
Although it is slightly different from Suminagashi by definition, Nojo incorporates marbling techniques with acrylic emulsion in his artworks. It is one of the strengths of the PIGMENT Lab that visitors can experience the knowledge shared by artists which comes from actual production.
These photos are how he demonstrated.
He dropped the solution and dish detergent into an aluminum tray filled with water to create a wave pattern and used bamboo skewers to create random ripple patterns.
Then, by gently placing a piece of paper on the water's surface, the patterns are transferred to it.
Using Sumi ink and color ink
After the lecture, all participants tried Suminagashi with the colors they liked. Various colors and patterns appeared depending on the person, and the making process made me feel cool and refreshed. The technique itself is very simple so both adults and children are enjoyable.
Picking up the paper from the aluminum tray. We do not know what kind of patterns we get until we flip the paper.
Here are framed pieces after being dried. Various expressions are possible, from organic wave patterns like minerals to fine lines reminiscent of Kimono patterns.
With the frames, the pieces are even more stunning and beautiful.
After the Suminagashi experience, a museum tour was given at WHAT MUSEUM.
The tour included the "ART de Cha Cha Cha− Exploring the DNA of Japanese Contemporary Art −”from the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection and "Open to the Public: Masayoshi Nojo's "Immerse yourself in the transitory nature".
At the "Open Studio: Masayoshi Nojo's "Immerse yourself in the transitory nature," Nojo explained his works. Participants were listening attentively since it was a rare opportunity to hear about artworks from the artist himself.
Masayoshi Nojo talking about his signature work, the "Mirage" series.
Finally, Mr. Alexander Nakahashi, the curator in charge of the exhibition, explained about the Ryutaro Takahashi Collection "ART de Cha Cha Cha− Exploring the DNA of Japanese Contemporary Art −.”
The Ryutaro Takahashi Collection is a contemporary art collection started in earnest in 1997 by psychiatrist Ryutaro Takahashi, one of Japan's foremost art collectors, and currently owns over 3,000 works. Among his collections, artworks by Keizaburo Okamura, Tomoko Konoike, Kishio Suga, Akira Yamaguchi, and Tadanori Yokoo were exhibited.
Nakahashi explaning Hiroki Tashiro’s piece “炎天華”
https://pigment.tokyo/collections/workshop
The event was a great success, and even when the event was over, many questions like how the exhibition was created were brought up and discussed.
Although this event was held only for a limited time, PIGMENT is planning many other exciting workshops.
Please click the following link to find a workshop that interests you.
https://pigment.tokyo/en/collections/workshop
Event Information
"Explore Contemporary Japanese Art - Suminagashi Experience and Museum Tour"
(*This event has ended.)
Date：July 28, 2023 (Friday)
Venue：PIGMENT TOKYO
Time: 14:00-17:00
Instoractor: Masayoshi Nojo
Fee: ¥8,000 (tax included)
Exhibition Title: Masayoshi Nojo "Immerse yourself in the transitory nature".
Exhibition: "ART de Cha Cha Cha− Exploring the DNA of Japanese Contemporary Art −”from the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection
Dates: April 28, 2023 (Fri) - August 27, 2023 (Sun)
Venue: WHAT MUSEUM
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 - 18:00 (last admission 17:00), closed on Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following Tuesday)
Admission: General admission: 1,500 yen, college/university students: 800 yen, high school students and younger: free
*Online ticket system
* Includes admission to concurrent exhibitions.
*Passports that allow unlimited admission during the exhibition period are available
WHAT MUSEUM PASSPORT 2,000 yen
The Museum "ARCHI-DEPOT" has over 600 architectural models entrusted by architects and design firms, some of which are exhibited for the public.
Fee: 700 yen for admission to the ARCHI-DEPOT, 2,000 yen for a set ticket (admission to the main exhibition + admission to the ARCHI-DEPOT)
Art Materials Expert at PIGMENT TOKYO
Akira Oya
Born in 1989 in Tokyo. Master of Fine Art and Design at Nihon University College of Art. While working at PIGMENT TOKYO as an Art Materials Expert, he also continues his career as a visual artist.
Born in 1989 in Tokyo. Master of Fine Art and Design at Nihon University College of Art. While working at PIGMENT TOKYO as an Art Materials Expert, he also continues his career as a visual artist.