NPO Aoyama Design Forum presents the recommended exhibitions of art galleries and museums in June 2024. In addition to the schedule of events, we will provide you with detailed information such as the works on display. Please check the website of each museum for current opening hours before visiting.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka Special Exhibition "Yoichi Umetsu: Crystal Palace"

Born in 1982, the artist Yoichi Umetsu focuses primarily on painting while also engaging in a wide range of other activities. These include, for example, creating self-portraits in which Umetsu dresses up as figures in the works of Seiki Kuroda and other pioneering Western-style painters from the modern era, and forming a collective called Parplume, which is rooted in the dream of integrating art-making with daily life. In recent years, Umetsu has expanded his practice to include ceramics and prints as a reflection of the industrial structure that underlies art production. This exhibition presents an overview of Umetsu work since the mid-2000s while also considering the fundamental question, “What does it mean to make things?” This promises to trigger an essential reconsideration of art as something that remains impartial to both aesthetics and politics.

• Period：Tuesday, June 4 to Sunday October 6, 2024
• Opening Hours：10:00–17:00 (10:00–20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays).
• Venue: National Museum of Art, B3, exhibition room
• Closed：Mondays
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/39w7t9eh

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto "The Work of Shiro Kuramata: A Microcosmos of Memory"

In 1965, Kuramata Shiro (1934-1991) established the Kuramata Design Office, and in addition to making interior designs, primarily for shops, he created furniture on an independent basis. In the 1980s, he took part in Memphis, a movement launched by an Italian design group, and expanded his practice internationally. As indicated by key works like Glass Chair and Miss Blanche, Kuramata developed richly poetic pieces using materials such as acrylic, glass, and steel mesh, which had previously never been used in interior design or furniture. In this exhibition, we present a career-spanning overview of Kuramata Shiro’s works, including design drawings, sketches, and entries from his dream diary , alongside the artist’s own words.

• Period: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 to Sunday, August 18, 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Venue: Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art [within Okazaki Park] 
• Closed: Monday
• URL: https://www.momak.go.jp/

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum "Imamori Mitsuhiko: Satoyama Harmony with Nature and Resilience in Japan"

《カタクリにやってきたギフチョウ》山形県鶴岡市　2010年　作家蔵

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum presents "Satoyama: Harmony with Nature and Resilience in Japan," featuring the work of nature photographer Imamori Mitsuhiko. Renowned for his unique approach, Imamori captures the relationship between humans and nature in diverse environments, including tropical rainforests and Japan's landscapes. Fascinated by insects since childhood, he has photographed many satoyama, traditional Japanese areas where nature and human activity coexist. This exhibition highlights over 200 satoyama sites, showcasing Imamori’s latest work and his lifelong dedication to nature photography. It vividly illustrates the harmony and resilience within Japan’s natural environment.

• Period: Thursday, June 20, 2024 to Sunday, September 29, 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
• Closed： Mondays
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/996r7hyk

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Special Exhibition "Where My Words Belong"

"Where My Words Belong," an intriguing group exhibition about "words," explores the diversity of linguistic practices in Japan and language rights. It will soon be on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. Languages worldwide exhibit a multitude of variations, from accents to generational differences in vocabulary and grammar. People often switch between different linguistic forms depending on their situation and audience, using specific vocabulary for family or friends or even entirely different languages. Some thoughts are conveyed without words. These nuances exemplify personal language use—what we call "My Words"—which continuously evolve as part of communication. Understanding a culture's language reveals much about its history and values. This exhibition, featuring works by Yuni Hong Charpe, Mayunkiki, Mai Nagumo, Hideo ARAI, and KIM Insook, highlights the linguistic differences within a seemingly monolingual society. It encourages visitors to embrace their own My Words and those of others, fostering a deeper understanding of individual and cultural identity.

• Period: Thursday, April 18, 2024 to Sunday, July 7, 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art, Special Exhibition Room 1F
• Closed: Monday
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/bdd5bs9m

Daimaru Museum Kyoto, 6th floor, Daimaru Kyoto Store "Mozu Miniature Exhibition"

©MOZU STUDIOS

The "Mozu Miniature Exhibition: Welcome to the Small World" is held at the Daimaru Museum in Kyoto from May 29 to June 16, 2024. Mozu, renowned for his hyper-realistic miniatures, especially his "Kobito Series," which depicts lifelike scenes of tiny people inhabiting everyday spaces, has gained widespread acclaim on social media with over 1.5 million followers. This exhibition showcases Mozu's captivating past works alongside new unveilings and interactive trick art doodles, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in his enchanting world. Photography is permitted, promising an engaging and visually stunning experience for all attendees.

• Period: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 to Sunday, June 16, 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (Last admission at 6:00 PM), closing at 7:00 PM
• Venue: Daimaru Museum Kyoto, 6th Floor, Daimaru Kyoto Department Store
• Closed: No closures during the exhibition period
• URL:https://tinyurl.com/48wzua25

Pola Museum of Art “ Philippe Parreno: Places and Spaces”

《私の部屋は金魚鉢》2018年　展示風景：グロピウス・バウ、ベルリン、2018年 Courtesy of the artist; Pilar Corrias, London; Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels; Esther Schipper, Berlin/Paris/Seoul Photo © Andrea Rossetti

Philippe Parreno, a leading figure in French contemporary art, explores the borders of reality, fiction, and hypotheticals through various mediums like film, sound, and sculpture. He questions traditional notions of art and authorship by collaborating with artists, architects, and musicians. Parreno incorporates advanced technologies like AI alongside everyday objects, creating surreal scenarios blending dynamism and silence, humor and critique. His exhibitions, such as the one at the Pola Museum of Art in Japan, transform spaces into symbol-laden labyrinths, inviting viewers into immersive theatrical experiences that evoke wonder and confusion, blurring the lines between audience and performer.

• Period: Saturday, June 8, 2024 to Sunday, December 1, 2024
• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Venue: Pola Museum of Art, Exhibition Rooms 1, 2, 5, and Outdoor Area
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/284v23yb

Mori Art Museum "Theaster Gates: Afro-Mingei"

《ストーニー・アイランド・アーツ・バンク》（内観）
2012年撮影：トム・ハリス　画像提供：ホワイト・キューブ

Theaster Gates, based in Chicago, has gained global recognition for his diverse artistic practice spanning sculpture, ceramics, architecture, music, and more. Influenced by Japanese craft and culture since 2004, Gates blends his African-American heritage with experiences from Mississippi and Chicago, coining the term "Afro-Mingei" to fuse Japanese Mingei philosophy with "Black Is Beautiful" aesthetics. His first solo exhibition in Japan, "Afro-Mingei," features sections like Shrine and Black Library, showcasing his unique fusion of cultures and addressing themes of race and politics. Amidst a global push for diverse perspectives, Gates' exhibition highlights the importance of honoring craft and celebrating cultural hybridity.

• Period: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 to Sunday, September 1, 2024
• Opening Hours:Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 
• Venue: Mori Art Museum
• Closed: No closures during the exhibition period
• URL: https://www.mori.art.museum/jp/

The Environmental and Experimental Architecture of Fujiki Studio, KOU :: ARC 2001 - 2024

Aqua-scape The Orangery version
Photo credit: Ryumei Fujiki

Fujiki Studio of Kogakuin University, School of Architecture has achieved many results so far, including winning the International Competition [Grand Prix], Graduation Diploma Design [No. 1 in Japan], and holding a Solo Exhibition (invited) in the UK. This time, they hold an exhibition that brings together these results and traces the trajectory of the past 24 years.

• Period: Monday, June 3, 2024 to Saturday, June 15, 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Venue: B1 Floor, B-ICHI Space, Shinjuku Campus, Kogakuin University
• Admission: Free of charge
• URL：https://tinyurl.com/3nh88t37

"Friday Road Show and Ghibli Exhibition" Kyoto Exhibition

© Studio Ghibli

The Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art will host the "Friday Road Show and Ghibli Exhibition" Kyoto Exhibition from April 12th to June 29th, 2024. "Friday Road Show," a cultural phenomenon spanning Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, introduced audiences to timeless masterpieces since its inception in 1985. Coinciding with Studio Ghibli's founding year, the exhibition celebrates this era, tracing Friday Road Show's history and highlighting the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli. It's a nostalgic journey back to our first encounters with cinema, offering a glimpse into the magic that has captivated audiences for decades.

• Period: Friday, April 12, 2024 to Saturday, June 29, 2024
• Opening Hours:Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM / Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Last admission at 5:15 PM)
• Venue: Kyoto Municipal Kyocera Museum of Art, Main Building, North Corridor 2nd Floor
• Closed: Monday
• URL: https://kinro-ghibli.com/kyoto/

Tourist hotel "Hotel Resol Ueno" Art gallery in the living lobby “Resol Gallery Ueno”

浮世富士　御厩川岸より両國橋夕陽見より （2022　テンペラ画 F0号）

Hotel Resol Ueno, Tokyo, hosts a special exhibition at Resol Gallery Ueno featuring four works by artist Koji Ogawa from June 1st to June 30th, 2024. Ogawa, a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, has a notable artistic history, including recognition at the Ueno Royal Museum Exhibition Award in 1990 and the Beppu Contemporary Painting Exhibition Mayor's Award in 1995. A member of Kokugakai since 2006, he actively showcases his pieces at Kokuten and solo exhibitions. The displayed works, including "The Floating World Fuji Series" and "Enoden - In front of Kamakura High School," boast vibrant colors and prominently feature Mount Fuji, captivating viewers with their striking imagery.

• Period: Saturday, June 1, 2024 to Sunday, June 30, 2024
• Venue: Hotel Risol Ueno
• Admission Fee: Free
• URL： https://www.resol-hotel.jp/ueno/

OIL by Bijutsu Techo Gallery Haruna Kawai "Coexistence of States" Exhibition

揺れるのを待つ　2204　606×455mm　アルシュ紙にアクリルガッシュ

Haruna Kawai's "Coexistence of States" exhibition at OIL by Bijutsu Techo Gallery runs from May 24 to June 17, 2024. Kawai explores the interplay between contrasting motifs, inviting viewers to ponder the transition between states. Known for melding geometric shapes and an interest in structural details like chair legs, Kawai's work evokes curiosity about what lies ahead. The exhibition captivates by juxtaposing opposing states, prompting observers to envision the unfolding narrative beyond each moment.

• Period: Friday, May 24, 2024 to Monday, June 17, 2024
• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Venue: OIL by Bijutsutecho Gallery
• Closed: No closures during the exhibition period
• Admission Fee: Free
• URL：https://oil-gallery.bijutsutecho.com/

Tsu-tsu Documentary Acting "01-25-1997"

《全体の奉仕者》2022

Tsu-tsu will be holding the documentary acting "01-25-1997" at the Kuma Foundation Gallery from Friday, June 28th to Monday, July 1st. This event is the fourth in the series "KUMA selection2024," which provides 11 supporters of the Kuma Foundation with the opportunity to freely use the Kuma Foundation Gallery and give a presentation of their own creative work.

• Period: Friday, June 28, 2024 to Monday, July 1, 2024
• Venue: Kuma Foundation Gallery
• Admission Fee: Free
• URL：https://tinyurl.com/mvwxy7du

Gallery Common Jacqueline Sardel's first solo exhibition "Bliss!"

Jacqueline Surdell, 2024. Photo by Yuma Nishimura. Courtesy of Gallery Common.

Gallery Common is delighted to announce American artist Jacqueline Surdell’s first solo exhibition in Japan. Bliss! will open from May 25 to July 7, with a reception for the artist on May 24. The exhibition will present entirely new works made during the artist’s month-long residency in Japan, influenced by her exposure to Tokyo’s cityscapes and gardens and the history and philosophy underlying them. Comprising large sculptural wall pieces spanning over 3 meters as well as smaller, more intimate works, the exhibition continues her exploration into the relationship between landscape, the body, and spirituality.

• Period: Saturday, May 25, 2024 to Sunday, June 23, 2024
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Venue: Gallery Common
• Closed: Monday, Tuesday
• URL：https://www.gallerycommon.com/ja