NPO Aoyama Design Forum presents the recommended exhibitions of art galleries and museums in April 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.

Installation view of the 8th Yokohama Triennale Photo: Ryohei Tomita

8th Yokohama Triennale “Wildflowers: Living Here and Now”

The 8th Yokohama Triennale, themed "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now," commenced on Friday, March 15, 2024. Featuring 93 artists from 31 countries and regions, the event unfolds across five venues, notably the Yokohama Museum of Art, recently revitalized after a three-year renovation. Among the participants are 31 first-time exhibitors in Japan, alongside 20 other international artists showcasing new works.

• Period: March 15 (Friday) - June 9 (Sunday), 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
• Venues: Yokohama Museum of Art, Former Daiichi Bank Yokohama Branch, BankART KAIKO, Queen's Square Yokohama, Motomachi-Chukagai Station connecting passage
• Closed: Every Thursday (except April 4, May 2, June 6)
• URL：https://tinyurl.com/2v4xddcw

Mori Art Museum “Theaster Gates: Afro-Mingei”

Image: Theaster Gates Stony Island Arts Bank (interior) 2012-Photo: Tom Harris Image courtesy of White Cube
Photo: Theaster Gates
Stony Island Arts Bank (interior) 2012-Photo: Tom HarrisPhoto courtesy: White Cube

"Afro-Mingei" represents Theaster Gates' innovative approach blending Black aesthetics with Japanese craft philosophies to envision hybrid cultural futures. It explores his extensive engagement with East Asian ceramic traditions, integrating Black political movements with Japanese craft resistance. Reflecting on the "Black Is Beautiful" Movement and the Mingei Movement of Japan, it highlights the use of public spectacle and academic discourse for self-empowerment against dominant Western influences. For Gates, "Afro-Mingei" embodies both fiction and profound truth, culminating in a homage to Japanese culture and a testament to cultural proliferation across borders.

• Period: April 24, 2024 (Wednesday) – September 1, 2024 (Sunday)
• Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 (until 17:00 on Tuesdays, but until 22:00 on Tuesday, April 30 and Tuesday, August 13)
• Venue: Mori Art Museum (53rd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo )
• URL: https://www.mori.art.museum/jp/

Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography "TOP Collection A Traveler from 1200

Image: Kuroiwa Yasuyoshi, D51 488 Yamate Freight Line (Ebisu), 1953, Gelatine Silver Print, Collection of Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum's exhibition explores the theme of time travel, inspired by the age-old fantasy of transcending historical eras. Drawing from Miyazawa Kenji's visionary depiction of a fourth-dimensional continuum, the exhibition delves into the intersection of art, science, and imagination. Starting from 1924, it showcases a century's worth of photographic and film works, inviting visitors on a journey through time and space. Through narratives spanning pre-World War II, postwar, and contemporary periods, the exhibition offers a captivating exploration of human imagination and history.

• Period: From April 4, 2024 (Thursday) to July 7, 2024 (Sunday), there are 83 days.
• Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (until 20:00 on Thursdays and Fridays.Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.)
• Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, 3rd floor exhibition room
• Admission fee: General 700 yen/Students 560 yen/Junior high and high school students/65 years and over 350 yen
• Sponsored by: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/254sf3sw

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo special exhibition “Where My Words Belong”

"Where My Words Belong," an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, delves into the diversity of linguistic practices in Japan and language rights. It explores how individuals navigate various languages, accents, and communication styles, including non-verbal forms. Featuring works by five artists, the exhibition examines the nuances within a single language and the challenges of multilingual societies. Visitors are invited to embrace their own linguistic identities and understand the experiences of others, whether through artworks depicting language barriers, heritage language struggles, or the importance of attentive listening in communication.

• Period: April 18, 2024 (Thursday) - July 7, 2024 (Sunday)
• Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (Entry to the exhibition room until 30 minutes before closing)
• Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Special Exhibition Room 1F
• Closed: Mondays ( open on April 29th and May 6th), April 30th, and May 7th
• URL: https://tinyurl.com/bdd5bs9m

Tokyo Art Museum Photo Exhibition “ANIMALS & FRIENDS Photography and Painting”

For centuries, humans and animals have shared diverse roles, from hunting and transportation to pets. They also hold symbolic significance in art and religion. Animal masks aid in cultural transformation. Today, animals offer emotional support, companionship, and solace, both domestically and in the wild. The exhibition features artists' varied perspectives on the human-animal relationship, ranging from observant to surreal, highlighting respect and humor.

Exhibiting artists

Katharina Arndt 、Joseph Broghammer、Michael Dressel、Joerg Engelhardt、Stephan Erfurt、
Elliott Erwitt、Philip Groezinger、Theo Heimann、Koro Ihara、Hiroji Kubota、Masumi Kura、
Mikos Meininger、Vera Mercer、Koji Onaka、Paul Pretzer、Christian Rothmann、Haruna Sato、Alec Soth、William Wegman 、Mario Wyrwinski、Curated by Christian Rothmann

• Period: April 6, 2024 (Saturday) - June 30, 2024 (Sunday)
• Opening hours: 11:00 - 18:30 (Last entry 18:00)
• Venue: Tokyo Art Museum
• Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
• Admission fee: General 500 yen / University and high school students 400 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen
• URL: http://www.tokyoartmuseum.com/

Nezu Art Museum Special Exhibition " The Irises Screens, National Treasure Japanese Art and Design"

Ogata Kōrin's Irises screens, a national treasure, epitomize the fusion of painting and design. The meticulous technique showcases vibrant azurite blue flowers and lively malachite green brushwork. Central to its allure is the geometric layout. Reflecting Japanese art's inherent design sense, the Irises bridge painting and craft. They symbolize a poetic connection and literary representation through their floral design. This exhibition, centered around the Irises, explores Japanese art's design aspect, particularly through early modern pieces.

• Period: April 13 (Saturday) - May 12 (Sunday), 2024
• Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00
• Venue: Nezu Museum
• Closed: Mondays (April 29 (Monday/Holiday), May 6 (Monday/Sunday)) (opens on May 7 (Tuesday))
• URL: https://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum “Giorgio De Chirico: Metaphysical Journey”

Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978)—one of the great masters of the 20th century. The "metaphysical paintings" (works expressing a surreal world through enigmatic landscapes and still lifes) that de Chirico began to produce around 1910 exercised a profound influence on the artists and international art movements. Dividing de Chirico’s roughly 70-year painting career in some themes—such as “Piazza d'Italia (Italian Piazza),” “Metaphysical Interior” and “Mannequin”—this exhibition will cover the entire range of his artistic output, from early to late-period works. It will be the first large-scale exhibition to be held in Japan in a decade, in which the world that de Chirico created is fully explored.

• Period: April 27, 2024 (Saturday) – August 29, 2024 (Thursday)
• Opening hours: 9:30-17:30, until 20:00 on Fridays (Last entry is 30 minutes before closing)
• Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
• 休Closed: Mondays, May 7 (Tuesday), July 9th (Tuesday) to July 16 (Tuesday)
• URL: https://dechirico.exhibit.jp/

“Friday Roadshow and Ghibli Exhibition" Kyoto

© Studio Ghibli

The Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art will host the "Friday Roadshow and Ghibli Exhibition" from April 12 (Friday) to June 29 (Saturday), 2024. The "Friday Road Show" stands as our inaugural movie experience, connecting us with cinematic treasures spanning the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras. It was an era where encountering timeless masterpieces transcended their release years, unveiling previously unknown worlds for many. Interestingly, the inception of this program in 1985 (Showa 60) coincides with the establishment of Studio Ghibli. This exhibition aims to delve into the allure of Studio Ghibli's creations while retracing the rich history of the Friday Roadshow from its inception in 1985.

• Period: April 12 (Friday) - June 29 (Saturday), 2024
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 9:00 to 18:00 *Last entry is 17:15
• Venue: Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, Main Building, North Corridor 2nd floor
• Closed: Mondays *Open on public holidays
• URL: https://kinro-ghibli.com/kyoto/

National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto “Tomioka Tessai: The Last Literati Painter (Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Artist’s Death)”

Tomioka Tessai (1837–1924), a renowned painter from a Kyoto merchant family, was deeply knowledgeable in various fields like Confucianism and Japanese classics. His versatility extended to mastering multiple painting techniques. As the last of the Bunjinga literati painters, the centenary of his passing in 2024 is commemorated. The exhibition showcases rarely seen works and recently unearthed pieces, alongside stationery and books from Tessai's studio, offering insights into his daily life. This event, the first Tessai show in Kyoto in 27 years, allows viewers to appreciate his oeuvre.

• Period: April 2, 2024 (Tuesday) - May 26, 2024 (Sunday)
  *Some works will be replaced with others while the exhibition is in session.
• Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Open until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays
  *Admission is limited to Closed 30 minutes before closing
• Venue: National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
• Closed: Mondays (*Exception: April 29, May 6, 2024), April 30, May 7, 2024
• URL : https://www.momak.go.jp/

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art “Keith Haring Exhibition: Art to the Streets”

Photo by ©Makoto Murata Keith Haring Artwork ⒸKeith Haring Foundation

Keith Haring: Art to the Streets, a touring exhibition at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, showcases the iconic works of the 1980s American artist. Haring's vibrant pop imagery, disseminated throughout New York's streets and subway, aimed to make art accessible to all. Despite his short career, Haring left a lasting impact with his socially charged messages, conveyed through simple bold lines. The exhibition features 150 pieces, including subway drawings and monumental works, illustrating his enduring influence and special connection to Japan. Haring's art remains relevant today, addressing social issues and inspiring collaboration across genres.

• Period: April 27, 2024 (Saturday) - June 23, 2024 (Sunday)
• Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:30 (Admission until 17:00)
• Venue: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Gallery Building, 3rd floor gallery
• Closed: Mondays *The next day if Monday is a holiday
• Kobe exhibition official website：https://www.ktv.jp/event/kh2023-25/
• Exhibition official website：https://kh2023-25.exhibit.jp/