Exhibition Review: National Museum of Western Art Reopening Commemorative Exhibition: Dialogue with Nature and People at the National Museum of Western Art

I visited the National Museum of Western Art for the first time in a while, as I heard it had reopened.
I thought the entire building had been renovated, but it turned out only the plaza in front of the entrance was updated, which was a bit of a letdown.
However, the exhibition content was substantial, and the permanent collection was also very voluminous, making for a highly satisfying experience. The permanent collection alone was enough to enjoy thoroughly.
Even for those who are not usually interested in art, I think you can enjoy it to some extent because there are famous works by artists whose names you have heard at least once, such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Manet.

This exhibition is titled "Dialogue with Nature and People," so the spotlight is on nature. Especially in the Impressionist to Neo-Impressionist era, there are many works with rich expressions that allow you to feel the atmosphere and scent of the land.
It makes me want to visit the peaceful nature depicted in works like those by Corot.

My favorite works in this exhibition were Gerhard Richter's "Clouds" and Paul Signac's "Port of Saint-Tropez."
In particular, the curation that placed Richter's work alongside Monet's "The Boat" was interesting. Even though the eras and painting styles are completely different, it somehow felt convincing.
Richter's work is an oil painting that looks like a photograph, and I felt that Impressionism and contemporary art were collaborating beautifully.
By the way, this exhibition is in collaboration with the Museum Folkwang in Germany, so there are many German works. For some reason, there have been many exhibitions related to Germany recently, such as the Richter exhibition (at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo) and the Museum Ludwig exhibition (at the National Art Center, Tokyo).
Also, the pointillist painting by Signac in the Western Museum's collection is one of the works that always excites me when I come to the museum. It is an ennui-filled piece that Japanese people seem to like, and the large-scale work created with precise pointillism reminds me of Seurat, whom I love.

The volume of the permanent collection is, as always, impressive, and since I would run out of time if I looked at it slowly, I went through it quickly.
Among them, the video recreating the etching (printmaking) process in collaboration with a university was helpful for understanding and very interesting.
Not limited to printmaking, I like to know not only the finished work but also the process that led to it, so I would be happy if such initiatives increased in the future.

The exhibition is 2,000 yen, which is a bit expensive, but including the permanent collection, the volume was huge and the satisfaction level was high. It is one of my favorite museums in Ueno.

Exhibition Name: National Museum of Western Art Reopening Commemorative Exhibition: Dialogue with Nature and People - From Friedrich, Monet, and Van Gogh to Richter
Location: National Museum of Western Art
Satisfaction: ★★★★☆
Dates: June 4, 2022 (Sat) – September 11, 2022 (Sun)
Access: About a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station
Admission (General): 2,000 yen
Advance Reservation: Required
Time Required: 1-2 hours including the permanent collection
Photography: Allowed (excluding some works)
URL: https://nature2022.jp/