Enjoying an Artistic Autumn in My Own Way: Idemitsu Museum of Arts / Asakura Museum of Sculpture
On a sudden whim, I decided I wanted to take a walk around the Imperial Palace and Ueno Park, where I thought I could enjoy the autumn leaves, so I visited these two locations.
I truly feel that the street trees and parks in Tokyo are rich and allow one to feel the four seasons...
Topkapi Palace Museum and Idemitsu Museum of Arts Collection: A Competition of Masterpieces
Did you know?
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Turkey.
To commemorate the friendship between the two countries, this exhibition introduces masterpieces of Japanese and Chinese ceramics from the Idemitsu Museum of Arts alongside items from the Topkapi Palace Museum collection.
Also, the Idemitsu Museum of Arts is located in the Teigeki Building.
I personally wanted to visit the Imperial Theatre, and since it is scheduled to be rebuilt next year,
it is quite a memorable timing that this exhibition is the last one before its long-term closure.
I had researched the Topkapi Palace at a previous job and was very interested in it. I have a fascination with Islamic art and palace culture, and I think I was able to re-experience that a little bit this time.
*All artwork images are cited from the exhibition's official website.
Although it is surprisingly small in size, it is a supreme masterpiece filled with an abundance of rubies and turquoise.
I had no idea that cloisonné technology was so prosperous... The lovely and delicate work makes palace art even more gorgeous.
Ottoman Empire, Iznik, late 16th century
These tiles are also called Iznik tiles.
It is said that in Islam, which forbids idolatry, these kinds of plant motifs developed alongside geometric patterns.
At my previous job, I was truly always helped by these plant motifs. They were an indispensable source of ideas for my work.
Because of the lines unique to hand-drawing that are not uniform, and because a perfect, seamless pattern appears when the motifs are repeated, I often imitated their composition...
More than just sculptures: Asakura Museum of Sculpture
It is close to my favorite spot, Ueno Park, and I regret why I haven't gone until now...
The Asakura Museum of Sculpture stands quietly in a residential area.
Once you step inside, a world that seems to come out of a scene in a story was waiting for me.
I thought it would be a stiff sculpture exhibition space, but...
It was a warm and gentle space that made good use of natural light with large windows.
It's not that I like cats that much, but you can feel Fumio Asakura's love for cats up close.
This building was built in 1935, and every detail was meticulously designed by Asakura himself.
It is a complex building equipped with a home and an atelier, and it has undergone repeated expansions and renovations; surprisingly, it even has a pond garden...!!
In 2001, the building was registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property, and in 2008, the entire site was designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty as the "Former Fumio Asakura Garden."
It is also quite attractive as a building.
Olive trees are planted on the rooftop, and I was able to enjoy a truly elegant moment taking in the views of Yanaka Cemetery, Ueno Park, and now the Skytree.
Every year, I have been grateful to be able to visit famous spots for autumn leaves, but I suddenly decided to go around my usual route.
Everywhere has trees where you can feel the season, and I am very happy to have been able to create places in Tokyo that I can visit.
I think that even in places I always visit, if I go just 10 minutes further, I can encounter new favorite spots.
Shall I go for another casual stroll...
