The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s exhibition, “The Whispering Land: Artists in Correspondence with Nature,” opened on Saturday, July 20th
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s exhibition, “The Whispering Land: Artists in Correspondence with Nature,” opened on Saturday, July 20th. This exhibition showcases works by five contemporary artists who express the breath of the earth, which is difficult to perceive in human-centered lifestyles. A press preview was held on Friday, July 19th, where the exhibition curator, Natuko Ohashi, and participating artists provided an explanation of the exhibits.
Photo: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum “The Whispering Land: Artists in Correspondence with Nature” Press Preview
Background of the Exhibition
The exhibition’s curator, Natuko Ohashi, explained that her experience of urban fragility during events such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic inspired this exhibition. The five participating artists, who continue to create works deeply connected to nature, express the breath of nature that is difficult to perceive in urban settings.
Participating Artists and Exhibition Details
The participating artists are as follows:
- Kazukazu Kawamura
- Haruka Furusaka
- Machiko Miroko
- Mitsuko Kurashina
- Yuichi Enomoto
Kazukazu Kawamura
Kawamura moved to the Shiretoko Peninsula in 2017 and continues his artistic activities there. The exhibition hall (Gallery C) features an installation of his photographic works that express the coexistence with the nature and wildlife of Shiretoko.
Photo: Exhibit by participating artist Kazukazu Kawamura
Haruka Furusaka
Furusaka’s works explore her experiences living with nature in the Nordic countries and Aomori, Japan. Her woodblock prints and installations express the breath of nature.
Photo: Exhibit by participating artist Haruka Furusaka
Machiko Miroko
Miroko moved to Amami Oshima in 2019 and creates artworks inspired by the nature there. Her exhibit features a central “Island” installation surrounded by works produced in Amami.
Photo: Exhibit by Machiko Miroko at Gallery A
Mitsuko Kurashina
Kurashina has been observing and painting the growth of plants in areas affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. This exhibition features watercolor paintings from Iwate, Fukushima, and Miyagi prefectures.
Photo: Exhibit by Mitsuko Kurashina at Gallery B
Yuichi Enomoto
Enomoto is exhibiting new works based on the landscape of Nemuro, Hokkaido. His paintings capture the expressions of ice and animal tracks on the snow.
Photo: Exhibit by Yuichi Enomoto at Gallery B
Exhibition Details
This exhibition showcases a diverse range of works including photographs, woodblock prints, oil paintings, watercolors, and installations by five contemporary artists, offering visitors an opportunity to reconnect with the human-nature relationship often overlooked in everyday life.
The exhibition catalog comes with a cloth dyed with mud from Amami Oshima, produced by the same workshop that Machiko Miroko uses for her works.
Exhibition Information
- Exhibition Title: The Whispering Land: Artists in Correspondence with Nature
- Dates: Saturday, July 20th, 2024 – Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
- Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Galleries A, B, C
- Closed Days: Mondays, September 17th (Tue), September 24th (Tue) *Open on August 12th (Mon), September 16th (Mon), and September 23rd (Mon)
- Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Fridays until 8:00 PM) *Last entry 30 minutes before closing
- Admission Fees: General: 1,100 yen; University/Vocational Students: 700 yen; 65 and older: 800 yen; Free for high school students and younger
- Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
- Special Cooperation: Tsugawa Corporation
- Support: Hokureki LLC, Mishimasha Inc., Gallery Camellia, Aomori Public University International Art Center Aomori
- Contact: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 03-3823-6921
- For the latest information on events and discounts, please visit the official exhibition website.
