From the Scene of Creation ―Artists’ Archives in Films and Photographs

9 September [Sat] - 19 November [Sun], 2023

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About this exhibition

In 1953, the Bridgestone Museum of Art, the Artizon Museum’s predecessor, established its Film Committee. In what it entitled the Art Film Series, the committee had, by 1964, filmed 61 artists and produced seventeen documentary films. These extraordinarily valuable materials record Japanese artists such as Umehara Ryuzaburo (1888-1986), Takamura Kotaro (1883-1956), and Maeda Seison (1885-1977) at work and in their daily lives.

The project was originally proposed by Ishibashi Kanichiro, the son of our founder, Ishibashi Shojiro. Taking the post of chairman of the Film Committee, Kanichiro sought “To help people who really love art and are working to understand it and also to illustrate moving portraits of leaders in the arts” in leading this project. Among the many art films produced in the 1950s, these played a pioneering role, particularly in the field of modern art, and were highly regarded in Japan and abroad, including being awarded a prize at an international film festival in Italy.

Recently, our museum has collected photographic works by Anzai Shigeo (1939-2020), who chronicled the contemporary art scene. Anzai, calling himself a contemporary art accompanist, produced, from the 1970s, portraits of artists and photographed transient works such as installations and performances.

This exhibition introduces the Art Film Series and photographs by Anzai accompanied by works of the artists pictured in these films and photographs. It includes about eighty works, both from our collection and on lease from other museums in Japan. By displaying the Art Film Series and Anzai’s work together, the exhibition offers a comprehensive view of Japanese modern and contemporary art in the making.

Exhibition overview

Exhibition title

From the Scene of Creation ―Artists’ Archives in Films and Photographs

Exhibition period

9 September [Sat] - 19 November [Sun], 2023

Opening hours

10:00 – 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays except November 3) *Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Closed

Mondays (except September 18, October 9), September 19, October 10

Organizer

Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation

Venue

5F Gallery

Concurrent Exhibitions

Jam Session: The Ishibashi Foundation Collection x Yamaguchi Akira Drawn to the Irresistible Sensation (6F Gallery)
Selections from the Ishibashi Foundation Collection Special Section Women Reading(4F Gallery)

Ticket prices (incl. tax)

On-line ticket In-Person ticket (purchase at museum)
General 1,200 yen *Credit card payments only 1,500 yen
University
college
high school students
Free entry Advance booking required
Please present student ID upon entry.
Disabled visitors
(plus one accompanying assistant)
Free entry Advance booking not required
Please present disabled person’s handbook upon entry.
Children
through junior high school
Free entry Advance booking not required
*Online tickets must be purchased up to 10 minutes before the end of each time slot.
*Booking is not accepted when a time slot is full.
*In-Person ticket may be purchased at the museum, if the time slot is not full.
*This admission fee gives the visitor access to the concurrent exhibitions.

Art works

Photography in progress (Umehara Ryūzaburō on lower right)

Photography in progress (Umehara Ryūzaburō on lower right)

ANZAI Shigeo, Domoto Hisao, Artist’s Studio, Tokyo, June 1980, 1980/2017 ©️ Estate of Shigeo Anzaï

ANZAI Shigeo, Domoto Hisao, Artist’s Studio, Tokyo, June 1980, 1980/2017 ©️ Estate of Shigeo Anzaï

KIMURA Shohachi, from the Art Film Series entitled Artist Visit Vol.2, 1954.

KIMURA Shohachi, from the Art Film Series entitled Artist Visit Vol.2, 1954.

YAMASHITA Shintaro, Offering, 1915, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation

YAMASHITA Shintaro, Offering, 1915, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation

KAWAI Gyokudo, from the Art Film Series entitled, Kawai Gyokudo, 1953.

KAWAI Gyokudo, from the Art Film Series entitled, Kawai Gyokudo, 1953.

KAWAI Gyokudo, Autumn Rain, 1940, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

KAWAI Gyokudo, Autumn Rain, 1940, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

TAKAMURA Kotaro, from the Art Film Series entitled, Takamura Kotaro, 1954.

TAKAMURA Kotaro, from the Art Film Series entitled, Takamura Kotaro, 1954.

TAKAMURA Kotaro, Hand, c.1918, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo , Photo: OTANI Ichiro<br />
*Exhibition period: September 12 [Tue] - November 19 [Sun]

TAKAMURA Kotaro, Hand, c.1918, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo , Photo: OTANI Ichiro
*Exhibition period: September 12 [Tue] - November 19 [Sun]

MAEDA Seison, from the Art Film Series entitled, Maeda Seison, 1957.

MAEDA Seison, from the Art Film Series entitled, Maeda Seison, 1957.

MAEDA Seison, Red and White Plum, c.1970, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation  Ⓒ Y. MAEDA & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2023 C4260

MAEDA Seison, Red and White Plum, c.1970, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation Ⓒ Y. MAEDA & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2023 C4260

TOMIMOTO Kenkichi, from the Art Film Series entitled Artist Visit Vol.7, 1958.

TOMIMOTO Kenkichi, from the Art Film Series entitled Artist Visit Vol.7, 1958.

TOMIMOTO Kenkichi, Fresh Water Jar, decorated with flower and willow design, overglaze enamels, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation

TOMIMOTO Kenkichi, Fresh Water Jar, decorated with flower and willow design, overglaze enamels, Artizon Museum, Ishibashi Foundation

KABURAKI Kiyokata, from the Art Film Series entitled, KABURAKI Kiyokata, 1954.

KABURAKI Kiyokata, from the Art Film Series entitled, KABURAKI Kiyokata, 1954.

KABURAKI Kiyokata, Portrait of Higuchi Ichiyo, 1940, Tokyo University of the Arts <br />
 ⒸKiyoo Nemoto 2023/JAA2300087

KABURAKI Kiyokata, Portrait of Higuchi Ichiyo, 1940, Tokyo University of the Arts
ⒸKiyoo Nemoto 2023/JAA2300087

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