MOT Collection:
Garden of Light / Continuing Whispers

Outline

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo houses approximately 5,500 artworks in its extensive collection, which spans the modern and contemporary periods with a focus on art of the postwar years. Each installment of the “MOT Collection” exhibition introduces artworks in the collection from various themes and angles in its effort to convey the diverse appeal of contemporary art.

Under the title, “Garden of Light / Continuing Whispers,” this exhibition consists of two sections that invite visitors to take their time strolling through the space to enjoy the diverse array of works. Featured on this occasion, among others, are paintings by various artists as well as print works that can be regarded as a core part of the museum’s collection, and a comprehensive selection of sculptures by FUNAKOSHI Katsura.

The first section (first floor) titled “Garden of Light” likens artworks to gardens, inviting viewers to gaze upon and stroll through the worlds that unfold within. Gardens are created by planting vegetation, or building mountains and ponds within empty and unoccupied plots of land. If a canvas or piece of paper is perceived as an empty plot of land, by what means do artists create and develop their work? Just as a garden shows various expressions depending on the seasons and changes in nature, artworks may be regarded as manifestations of an attempt to capture these fleeting moments through the artist’s own hand. Upon venturing into and exploring the works, viewers may find themselves coming across unexpected sights and scenes like never seen before. This exhibit centers on paintings by artists such as NAKANISHI Natsuyuki, ISHIKAWA Yukie, and SUZUKI Hiraku.

The second section (third floor) titled “Continuing Whispers” encourages us to open our ears and listen carefully to the various voices that are emitted from the works. Even works that seemingly have no element of sound or voice quietly stir the emotions of those who view them, as people’s presence, voices, and personal thoughts are evoked though the figures and faces depicted, as well as their appearance and demeanor.

In addition to the work of FUNAKOSHI Katsura from which the title of this section is derived, the works of Christian BOLTANSKI, Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, and FUKUDA Naoyo, and print works by KOMAI Tetsuro and HIWASAKI Takao among others, welcome viewers to embrace this space where a diverse multitude of voice overlap and coalesce.

*Some of the exhibited works are on continued display from the previous installment of the “MOT Collection” exhibition (November 13, 2021 – February 23, 2022).
*Please be informed that the contents of the exhibit may be subject to change.

List of Works
Pamphlet

  • ISHIKAWA Yukie, The Sky Through a Window Opening Gently 2001-1, 2001, Deposited (private collection)

  • FUNAKOSHI Katsura, Continuing Whisper, 1990, Deposited (private collection)
    Photo: Hiromu Narita
    © Katsura Funakoshi, Courtesy of Nishimura Gallery

  • SUZUKI Hiraku, Interexcavation #2, 2019

  • FUKUDA Naoyo, The Winged "The Abbreviated Laptop History of Literature", 2013
    Photo: Ichiro Otani

  • KOU Kana [YOSHIDA Kana], A Secret of Hanasuwa Island, 2013, Private Collection, Installation view, Setouchi Triennale, Shodoshima, 2013-2019 Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa

  • NAKANISHI Natsuyuki, Drawing, 1981
    ©︎NATSUYUKI NAKANISHI

Artists

ARAKAWA Shusaku, ISHIKAWA Yukie, USAMI Keiji, KOU Kana [YOSHIDA Kana], KOMAI Tetsuro, SUZUKI Hiraku, DOMOTO Yuumi, NAKANISHI Natsuyuki, HIWASAKI Takao, FUKUDA Naoyo, FUNAKOSHI Katsura, MISE Natsunosuke, MIYAWAKI Aiko, LEE Ufan, Christian BOLTANSKI, Enrico CASTELLANI, Lucio FONTANA, Hamish FULTON, Rebecca HORN, Agnes MARTIN, Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, and more

Highlights

● The exhibition features a variety of paintings, including newly collected and entrusted works by artists of different generations such as NAKANISHI Natsuyuki, ISHIKAWA Yukie, and SUZUKI Hiraku.

● Artists such as KOMAI Tetsuro and HIWASAKI Takao who are leading figures within the history of printmaking in Japan, will be introduced from amongst the museum’s richly comprehensive collection of prints.

● Several works including an installation by KOU Kana [YOSHIDA Kana] and Christian BOLTANSKI’s representative work are on continued display from the previous installment of the “MOT Collection.”

Information

Exhibition Period

Saturday, 19 March – Sunday, 19 June 2022
* The exhibition open on March 23. More details

Closed

Mondays (except 21 March), 22 March

Opening Hours

10:00-18:00 (Tickets available until 30 minutes before closing.)

Admission

Adults – 500 yen / University & College Students – 400 yen / High School Students, Over 65 – 250 yen / Free for under Junior High School Students & Temporary Exhibition tickets holders

* Tickets for the ”The art of Special Effects Production Designer Yasuyuki “TAIKO” Inoue, "YOSIZAKA Takamasa Panorama World: from life-size to the earth" and the Combined Tickets also include admission to the “MOT Collection” exhibition.
* Children younger than elementary school age need to be accompanied by a guardian.
* Persons with a Physical Disability Certificate, Intellectual Disability Certificate, Intellectual Disability Welfare Certificate, or Atomic Bomb Survivor Welfare Certificate as well as up to two attendants are admitted free of charge.
*Those who are 18 years old or younger will be admitted for free from Saturday, 19 March to Sunday, 3 April. (A document to prove your age is required.)

Venue

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Collection Gallery 1F / 3F

Organized by

Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture

* All programs are subject to change.

Concurrent Exhibition

See Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions