[Art Exhibition 2024#84] Korin: National Treasure 'Red and White Plum Blossoms' x Important Cultural Property 'Wind God and Thunder God' at MOA Museum of Art

Dates:2024 November 1(Fri) –November 26(Tue)

I usually visit the MOA Museum of Art as part of a trip to an Atami hot spring inn, but this time I came solely to see this.

I have seen both of them at their respective museums before, but I heard that this is the first time in 39 years that they have been displayed side-by-side.
When you get teased with something like that, you just have to go.

Looking out over the sea of Atami beyond Hiroshi Sugimoto's bench.

These tiles were reportedly ordered from a Nara tile craftsman who works on the restoration of temples like Todai-ji.
Because they are fired in small kilns, the fired colors vary slightly, giving them a human warmth.
My excitement builds inevitably even before entering.

The MOA Museum of Art is thoroughly committed to every detail, which is no surprise given that Hiroshi Sugimoto was involved in its renovation.
The quality of the collection is, of course, exceptional, but there is great value in coming here just to experience the museum itself.

For this exhibition, most of the works are available for photography.
Wonderful.

・ 'Autumn Grasses' folding screen, attributed to Ogata Korin

The texture of the flowers is in relief.
It would surely be a wonderful painting even if it remained flat, but by doing this, one can experience the beauty of nature more realistically even indoors.
Since folding screens at the time also functioned as interior installations, this must have been the right approach.
The balance, ensuring it doesn't become too much, is superb.

・ 'Bamboo and Plum' folding screen, Ogata Korin

A small folding screen.
It's just right for an interior.
I want to put this in my Japanese-style room. I want it.

・ 'Scroll of Waka Poems from the Shin Kokin Wakashu with Floral Stencil Designs', Hon'ami Koetsu

The collaborative scroll by Sotatsu (and his circle) and Hon'ami Koetsu might look like stencil-based stamp art at first glance, but if you look closely, you can see the traces of the brush, drawn with a single stroke full of tension.
The basic sizes and shapes are almost uniform, but because it was done by hand, there are subtle shifts, which I felt actually created a delicate expression that captured a lively moment.
It seems as if the work was already complete at this point, but Koetsu's boldness led him to unsparingly use it as a base for his calligraphy.
However, by adding the calligraphy, they seem to bring out the best in each other, elevating the piece into an even better, one-of-a-kind work.
As I watched for a while, it became confusing whether the calligraphy was written over the painting or the painting was drawn over the calligraphy.
It felt like a jazz session where they improvise and play sounds freely while crossing over each other.

・ 'Tiger' folding screen, Ogata Korin (left)
・ 'Dragon and Tiger', Tawaraya Sotatsu (right)

No matter how much he had never seen a real tiger, this is surely too cute.
It's not even a cat anymore, and if anything, it has a face like an old man.
This impossibly exquisite composition, and the handling of the tail and legs, is genius.

・ 'Writing Box with Water Plantain Design in Maki-e and Mother-of-Pearl', Ogata Korin

They really do a wide range of things.
And each one is of high quality.

・"Hanshan and Shide" by Ogata Korin

Hearing the names Hanshan and Shide reminds me of Tadanori Yokoo's Hanshan and Shide exhibition last year.
Well, Mr. Yokoo billed it as 'Hanshan and One Hundred Shides'.

・"Tea Jar with Wisteria Design in Overglaze Enamels" by Nonomura Ninsei

MOAMuseum of Art's prized National Treasure, a tea jar by Nonomura Ninsei. It sits enthroned in the center of a small room specially prepared for this piece. The work itself is wonderful, of course, but the way it is lit and the special anti-reflective glass show a

wonderful respect for the artwork.

・"Square Dish with Design of Jurojin in Iron Glaze" by Ogata Korin / Kenzan

A collaborative dish by Korin and Kenzan. Korin painted the picture, Kenzan wrote the calligraphy, and both of their seals are present. Every time I see the Jurojin with his high forehead, I am reminded of

this guy. ↓

A mascot character for Cannondale from about 20 years ago. Does anyone know him?

・"Wind God and Thunder God" by Ogata Korin

The Korin version held by the Tokyo National Museum. I just saw the Sakai Hoitsu version, which is said to be a copy of this Korin version, at the
Idemitsu Museum of Arts the other day, and both are magnificent. And
it is quite difficult to discover the differences without actually lining them up side-by-side for comparison.

In 2006, there was a rare exhibition at the Idemitsu Museum of Arts where the "Wind God and Thunder God" screens by Tawaraya Sotatsu, Ogata Korin, and Sakai Hoitsu were displayed simultaneously, but unfortunately, I was living abroad that year, so I couldn't go. Years later, I obtained only the exhibition catalog, which was very easy to understand because it focused on and compared the differences between the three.

When you line them up and compare them, they are quite different. I wonder if someone could do this project again somewhere.

・"Red and White Plum Blossoms" by Ogata Korin, National Treasure

MOAMuseum's final boss has arrived. After copying Sotatsu's original "Wind God and Thunder God" screens, Korin replaced the two gods with red and white plum trees and further sublimated the work into his own expression by painting a water flow in the central space, completing the "Red and White Plum Blossoms" screens.

I have seen both works before, but comparing them side-by-side like this was a valuable opportunity to notice their commonalities and differences anew.

In any case, holding masterpieces of Japanese art history in one's own collection is a powerful thing. It is also wonderful that the museum takes pride in
effectively utilizing those assets to create new expressions. Above all, I think
this is a happy thing for Korin as well.

And here at the MOA Museum of Art, the use of masterpiece chairs as furniture is also wonderful.

[Museum Masterpiece Chairs] ↓

[Art Exhibition2024] Summary Magazine ↓