MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO

March 29th, 2019Grand Reopening!

 

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) will celebrate its Grand Reopening on March 29th 2019. For almost three years, MOT has been closed to upgrade its equipment and improve its utility as a museum building.

To mark the Grand Reopening, MOT will hold two concurrent exhibitions - one in its special exhibition galleries and one in its collection galleries to - throughly introduce its collection on a large scale in the entire space of the museum. Free admission is granted on March 29th on the first day of reopening, with museum opening hours extended until 8pm. A series of commemorative events are also scheduled for during the exhibition period.

The renovation includes the upgrading of aged equipment and facilities, installation of new signage for visitors to enjoy a more cohesive museum experience, improvements to the public space with connections to the neighboring Kiba Park, and refurbishment of the Art Library. In addition, a new restaurant, café and lounge will open, along with the reopening of our museum shop.

 

Museum of Contemporary Art TokyoGrand Reopening Exhibition

Special
Exhibition

Weavers of Worlds -A Century of Flux in Japanese Modern / Contemporary Art-

This exhibition will survey the Japanese art of the past 100 years, from the 1910s to 2010s, through works mainly in the museum's collection. Its aim to show how the artists, by taking a discerning critical perspective, have selected strands of already established and radically new styles and techniques, and woven their own distinctive worlds. From the 1920s era of KISHIDA Ryusei to the present day, artists in each generation have studied the issues specific to their time and created works that critically examine the "circumstances of Japanese art."
In its narrative on modern and contemporary Japanese art, the exhibition will not situate the artists in the context of a static view of history; instead it will look at the particular practice of the artist who, by selectively adopting elements, was able to arouse his subject. It will furthermore display artworks whose subject matter relates to the Kiba district where the museum is located, a community that has witnessed dramatic change these 100 years. By surveying the artistically important works that punctuate Japanese modern / contemporary art history, in galleries on all three of the museum's floors, the exhibition will profile the history of one hundred years.

Highlights

For the first time, the entire special exhibition galleries on three floors will be devoted to displaying the powerfully experimental works of this museum, dating from 1910 to the present, from the perspective of their connection with the art of today.

Japanese modern / contemporary art will be examined from the perspective of artists who selected among diverse art styles and techniques, old and new, to form a creative, critical relationship with society. From this, the path-breaking character of their artistic endeavor, taking as its subject their own predicament of creating art in Japan--a nation with a hybrid culture--will grow clear.

Besides selected artworks, valuable archive materials from the pre-war era will also be presented from the museum's collection, which has evolved with changing landscape of contemporary art. They will include magazines of the Sosaku-hanga ("creative prints") art movement and special collections from the Art Library.

Artists (tentative)

Ay-O, AIDA Makoto, Ai-Mitsu, AKIYAMA Yutokutaishi, ASAKURA Setsu, ABE Nobuya, ARISHIMA Ikuma, IKEDA Tatsuo, ISHII Hakutei, ISHIDA Takashi, IZUMI Taro, ISOBE Yukihisa, ITO Zon, UMEZAWA Kazuki, UMETSU Yoichi, UMEHARA Ryuzaburo, URUSHIBARA Hideko, Ei-Q, OIWA Oscar, OHTAKE Shinro, OHNO Hidetaka, OKAZAKI Kenjiro, OKAMOTO Taro, OGURA Yuki, OZAWA Tsuyoshi, OCHIAI Tamu, ONO Yoko, ONOSATO Toshinobu, ONCHI Koshiro, KAZAMA Sachiko, KASHIHARA Etsutomu, KATSURA Yuki, KATO Izumi, KATO Taro, KANAYAMA Akira, KANEUJI Teppei, KANOKOGI Takeshiro, KAWAMATA Tadashi, KAWARA On, KANBARA Tai, KISHIDA Ryusei, KITAGAWA Tamiji, KITADAI Shozo, KIMURA Shohachi, KUDO Tetsumi, KUNIYOSHI Yasuo, KOIZUMI Meiro, KONO Michisei, KOBAYASHI Masato, KOMAI Tetsuro, SAITO Yoshishige, SAITO Yori, SHINOHARA Ushio, SHIMIZU Toshi, SHIRAGA Kazuo, SHIRAKAWA Yoshio, SUENAGA Fuminao, SUGA Kishio, SUGITO Hiroshi, SUGIMATA Tadashi, SUGIMOTO Hiroshi, SUMIYA Iwane, SUWA Naoki, SEIMIYA Hitoshi, TAKAYANAGI Eri, TADA Minami, TATSUNO Toeko, TANAKA Atsuko, TANAKA Koki, TANAKA Chizuko, CHIBA Masaya, TSUBAKI Sadao, TSURUOKA Masao, TEZUKA Aiko, TERADA Masaaki, TERUYA Yuken, TOGO Seiji, DOMOTO Hisao, TOMII Motohiro, TOYOSHIMA Yasuko, NAKAZAWA Hiromitsu, NAKANISHI Natsuyuki, NAKANO Jun, NAKAHASHI Katsushige, NAKAHARA Minoru, NAKAMURA Kazumi, NAKAMURA Hiroshi, NARA Yoshitomo, NAWA Kohei, NODA Tetsuya, HAMADA Chimei, FUKAZAWA Sakuichi, FUKUZAWA Ichiro, FUKUSHIMA Hideko, FUKUDA Miran, FUJITA Tsuguharu, FUJIMAKI Yoshio, FUNAKOSHI Katsura, HOMMA Takashi, MAEDA Toshiro, MAKINO Torao, MATSUE Taiji, MATSUMOTO Shunsuke, MARUYAMA Naofumi, MIKI Tomio, MISHIMA Kimiyo, MINAMIKAWA Shimon, MURAKAMI Takashi, MURAYAMA Tomoyoshi, MOHRI Yuko, MOTONAGA Sadamasa, MORI Chihiro, MORIMURA Yasumasa, YAGI Lyota, YANAGI Yukinori, YANASE Masamu, YANOBE Kenji, YABE Tomoe, YAMAGUCHI Katsuhiro, Finger Pointing Worker, YOKOO Tadanori, YOKOBORI Kakujiro, YOSHIDA Hiroshi, YOSHIHARA Jiro, Chim↑Pom, O JUN and more

MOT
Collection

Pleased to meet you.
New Acquisitions in recent years

Currently, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo holds some 5,400 pieces in its collection, which spans the modern and contemporary periods with a focus on art of the postwar years. MOT regularly features the works in "MOT Collection" exhibitions, choosing a different theme each term to show the diverse appeal of contemporary art, and contriving to enable viewing the same artwork from different perspectives.
Having newly acquired some 400 works during its three-year closure, the museum will focus on these new acquisitions in its "MOT Collection" exhibitions this fiscal year, to mark its Grand Reopening. In term one, the exhibition will spotlight works produced in the 2010s and also unveil earlier collected works that have undergone restoration. In MOT's newly renovated galleries, thus, people familiar with MOT's collection and those viewing it for the first time will be able to enjoy fresh encounters with each of the works.

Highlights

Many “Pleased to Meet You” Artworks

Collecting artworks in real time, as they are created, is fundamental to MOT as a contemporary art museum. Featured this time are works produced primarily in the 2010s, selected from among pieces newly acquired during the museum’s closure. Created by some 20 artists, the works will be displayed in a solo exhibition-type format. Visitors will enjoy seeing new works of the past decade by artists of different regions and generations.

And Nostalgic “Nice to See You Again” Artworks and Spaces

Displayed this time, along with newly restored works by MIYAJIMA Tatsuo, will be works already familiar to visitors, including Roy LICHTENSTEIN’s Girl with Hair Ribbon and Arnaldo POMODORO’s Gyroscope of the Sun. Together with new acquisitions, many nostalgic works also await you in the museum’s relaxed, open spaces. Enjoy seeing them at your own pace.

Outdoor Sculptures—Both “Please to meet yous” and “Nice to see you agains”

Outdoor sculptures by artists such as Anthony CARO and Richard DEACON are back in place after thorough restoration. Newly joining them are outdoor sculptures by ONO Yoko, SUZUKI Akio, and TAKADA Akiko & Masako. Encounter both new and already familiar facets of the collection while touring the entire museum building—including the redesigned courtyard.

Artists (tentative)

IMAI Shunsuke, OGINO Ryosuke, OKUMURA Yuki, ONO Yoko, SAKAGISHI Yoshiou, SUENAGA Fuminao, SUZUKI Akio, SEKINE Naoko, SOUTOME Teppei, TAKADA Akiko & Masako, TANADA Koji, TEZUKA Aiko, TERAUCHI Yoko, NAKAZONO Koji, Nadegata Instant Party (NAKAZAKI Tohru+YAMASHIRO Daisuke+NODA Tomoko), BUNYA Yukari, MINAMIKAWA Shimon, MIYAJIMA Tatsuo, Anthony CARO, Richard DEACON, Simon FUJIWARA, Saleh HUSEIN, JUNG Yeondoo, Roy LICHTENSTEIN, Mark MANDERS, Marta PAN, Sopheap PICH, Arnaldo POMODORO and more

 
 
 
 
 

About the Renovation of
Facilities and Equipment

Improvement of
Facilities

・Response to Time-related Deterioration & New and Improved Functions
Air conditioning and other building equipment has been upgraded, as have interior floors, walls, and ceilings. The environmental load has been reduced with energy-efficient lighting systems, etc.
・Improvement of User Services
Additional elevators up to galleries are installed, and barrier-free access improved. And child care support facilities expanded. The museum’s circulation path is redesigned and improved.

New Museum
Signage

MOT strives to be an art museum that is open to the town and community. Based on a concept of opening the museum to everyday life, like an extension of the neighboring Kiba Park, new signage is installed for convenient barrier-free access to all the museum’s facilities, including the Café & Lounge.
Signage Equipment Design: NAGASAKA Jo (Architect, Schemata Architects)
Signage Planning: IROBE Yoshiaki (Art Director, Irobe Design Institute, Nippon Design Center Inc.)

Art Library

“Multi-media Booth” for viewing video materials, “Art Library for Children” filled with fun art books has also been newly established.

Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
* 3.29 (Fri) Open until 20:00
Closed: On days the museum is closed

Museum Shop, Restaurant, Café & Lounge

Museum Shop
“NADiff contemporary”

Museum Shop NADiff contemporary offers a broad selection of unique artist-designed goods as well as exhibition catalogues, originally-designed MOT items, and books on contemporary art. Visitors will enjoy browsing the shop for “sold only here” art gifts that let them take home the spirit of contemporary art.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
*3.29 (Fri) Open until 20:00
Closed: On days the museum is closed

Restaurant
“100 Spoons”

100 Spoons—a fun-filled restaurant for families, offering delicious new taste experiences of familiar menu items. While enjoying their meal, customers can have contact with art, create their own artworks—even become an artwork themselves. A fun new museum experience for people of all ages, children and adults alike.

Opening Hours: 11:00-18:00 (L.O.17:00)
*3.29 (Fri) Open until 20:00(L.O.19:00)
Closed: On days the museum is closed

Café & Lounge
“SANDWICH UPSTAIRS”

How nice to sit alone, cup of coffee in hand, basking in the afterglow of one’s art encounters. How nice to analyze the exhibition’s aims with a friend, while munching a sandwich. And how nice to share your impressions of the artworks in a group, over dessert. Your choice of a menu sandwich or sandwich of the day plus an original beverage, for enjoying inside or out in the court.

Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00 (L.O.17:30)
  *3.29 (Fri) Open until 20:00 (L.O.19:30)
Closed: On days the museum is closed

Commemorative
Grand Reopening Logo

We asked NAKAJO Masayoshi, designer of MOT’s bold familiar logo, to create a Commemorative Grand Reopening Logo to be utilized for a period of one year.

The MOT logo, while accenting the initial “M” for museum, portrays the “T” for Tokyo as a plus (“+”) sign to evoke a positive, enthusiastic image. The plus (“+”) also reinforces the nuance of “motto motto” (“more and more”) implied by the Japanese pronunciation of the acronym MOT: “Motto.”

Access Information

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is currently closed for renovations, will reopen on 29th March 2019.

From Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon Line: 9min. walk from the B2 exit.
From Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on the Toei Oedo Line: 13min. walk from the A3 exit.

 

Contact

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0022 Japan

TEL: +81-3-5405-8686
(Hello Dial)
7days a week 8:00-22:00

or

TEL: +81-3-5245-4111
(General Information)
weekdays between 9:30-18:00