[Exhibition Report] Yokohama Civic Art Gallery Azamino "Azamino Children's Gallery 2024" & "Uruma Takezawa Workshop <Photography and Perspective> Completion Exhibition"

[Approx. 3,500 characters, approx. 40 photos]
I went to the Yokohama Civic Art Gallery Azamino to see the "Azamino Children's Gallery 2024" and the "Uruma Takezawa Workshop <Photography and Perspective> Completion Exhibition." Here are my thoughts on them.

※These exhibitions have already ended.

[What I want to convey in this post]
❶Children and parents alike can move their bodies and participate in this fun exhibition! (Free), ❷ The "Children's Gallery" has been held 18 times in total, which is a wonderful initiative, ❸ I got many ideas from Uruma Takezawa's completion exhibition, ❹ Azamino should make more effective use of the Yokohama Civic Art Gallery by raising awareness of it.

▼ Yokohama Civic Art Gallery notes I have posted in the past

▶︎ Reason for visiting

I learned about the existence of "Azamino Children's Gallery 2024" by seeing a post on X by Bijutsu Techo. I was drawn to the phrase "exhibition for children," so I visited. I found out about the content of the "Uruma Takezawa Workshop <Photography and Perspective> Completion Exhibition" on the day and entered.

▶︎ Thoughts on "Azamino Children's Gallery 2024"

In short, it is an enjoyable exhibition for children. To think this is the 18th time! Admission is free. The exhibition was a single-floor layout with four or five relatively large works using video.

There were always 1-3 pairs of parents and children at the venue. Since all the children were running around and looking lively, I think everyone felt it was fun! I thought it was closer to a "playground" than "art." It is a good thing that opportunities for parents and children to encounter art and museums are increasing.

✔️ Body Planning Unit YOHAKU "Let's play with body movements"

First is "Show Must Go Round." When you look into the camera placed on the desk, it is a mechanism that creates an interesting visual effect on the screen in front of you.

Next is "Hello Goodbye in Mirror Land." On the large screen, adults performing various movements are shown. Part of it is a mechanism where you appear on camera. By imitating the movements of others, you, as the person being shown, can gain some insights from the work.

✔️ Nohara Tsukiji "Let's Play with Animation"

Speaking of Nohara Tsukiji's work, I remember mice scurrying around at the National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT View 02 Nohara Tsukiji: Nezumi-kke).

At the Azamino venue, you can take off your shoes, lie down, and enjoy "Mouse's Summer Vacation" projected on the ceiling. Lying down feels fun and out of the ordinary.

On the wall, a mouse called "NEZUMIMUZEN" is projected. It seems that not only the wall but also the video projected on the floor is part of the work. Is that why the title is an English palindrome...? I hadn't understood the true intent of the work, so I ended up taking pictures excluding the floor part 😅

In addition, a workshop (500 yen) titled "Bring Your Drawings to Life!" was also held. I happened to visit the site about two hours after reservations opened, and it was already sold out. Despite the total capacity of 40 people (one day, four sessions per day, five people each), I was surprised by its unexpected popularity.

My child especially loves to "draw." I think opportunities like these workshops can be a way to foster a love for art.

I had a similar experience at the Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) at the "teamLab: Dance! Art Exhibition and Learn & Play! Future Park" (January 2015). Even as an adult, I remember feeling like a child again and having fun 😀

▶︎ Impressions of "Uruma Takezawa Workshop <Photography and Perspective> Completion Exhibition"

Uruma Takezawa is a photographer who also serves as an instructor at places like Canon Gallery. He independently conducts a workshop called "Perspective and Photography" (8 sessions total, 96,800 yen total), and this exhibition is held as the "completion" of that course.

From this exhibition, I realized that there are as many ways to capture the world as there are people. I believe that "a photograph is a condensed moment of one's life so far." Looking at many photographs, it was fun to see the life philosophies of various people. I felt that I was able to gain plenty of ideas that I might be able to use in the future.

I was most impressed by the work of Yutaka Murakoshi. This is because I also like snapshots of casual streetscapes. Capturing a city in a single shot and telling the whole story with it. It is interesting how the way a message is conveyed changes depending on how you crop it, even for a city you know.

From the works of the organizer, Uruma Takezawa, I was reminded of Serkan Günes's Lapland landscapes. The majestic and sharp scenery was something rarely seen in Japan.

Do the people living in Azamino know that exhibitions are being held on the first and second floors of the Yokohama Civic Art Gallery?

Since they are doing such wonderful things, I thought they should put more effort into publicity activities, such as putting up posters at Azamino Station or setting up signs. Since it is a place to cool off during the intense heat, I think they could increase attendance to some extent.

▶︎Summary

What did you think? Although not large in scale, it was an exhibition that both children and parents could enjoy (and it's free!). Moreover, I was surprised to learn that it has been held a total of 18 times. I think Azamino should make better use of this asset. In Uruma Takezawa's completion exhibition, I was able to see works as diverse as the people who created them, and I got some ideas.

▶︎Today's Museum Meal