People have, since we first walked the earth, wished for happy lives. Japanese art presents a cornucopia of auspicious designs expressing that wish to adorn births, weddings, and other happy events, seasonal festivals, and everyday life. Amidst the unstable world situation we continue to experience nowadays, the Yamatane Museum of Art is delighted to present an exhibition full of happy feelings, expressing our hope for the happiness of all.
Term: 14 December (Sat.) 2024 – 24 February (Mon.) 2025
Open: 10 am – 5 pm (Last admission at 4:30 pm)
Closed: 14 Jan., from 29 Dec. to 2 Jan., and on Mondays, except for 13 Jan., 24 Feb.
Yamatane Museum of Art official website: https://www.yamatane-museum.jp/
Exhibition Overview
This exhibition focuses on art that expresses our hopes for longevity, being blessed with children, wealth, and prosperity. It introduces works with lucky motifs that resonate with people today, including the familiar pine, bamboo, and plum tree triad, and the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. It also includes works that inspire happy feelings in the viewer: humorous works and scenes filled with a sense of well-being.
Itō Jakuchū’s Cranes (private collection) presents these symbols of longevity, cranes brimming with vitality, in a ink wash painting.
Itō Jakuchū’s, Cranes, 18th century (Edo period), Ink on paper (private collection)
Kawabata Ryūshi’s peaceful scene in Children Playing with an Elephant (Ryushi Memorial Museum) symbolizes children, grandchildren, and the perpetuation of the family line.
Kawabata Ryūshi, Children Playing with an Elephant, 1949, Color on Paper, (Ryushi Memorial Museum)
Haniwa, Hunter Carrying a Boar (private collection), a terracotta figure from an ancient Kofun-period tomb, fills the viewer with delight.
Haniwa, Hunter Carrying a Boar, 5th-7th century Kofun period (private collection)
Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake, this exhibition also offers works depicting serpents, for your viewing pleasure.
Through Japanese art with happiness as its theme, a theme with a broad range, from the prehistoric Kofun period through modern and contemporary times, we hope that you will enjoy a heart-warmingly happy experience near the year’s end and in the new year.
*All works are from the Yamatane Museum of Art collection unless otherwise noted.
*Approximately 60 works in total are to be displayed.
*Main image Kawabata Ryūshi, Children Playing with an Elephant, 1949, Color on Paper (Ryushi Memorial Museum)
Term: 14 December (Sat.) 2024 – 24 February (Mon.) 2025
Open: 10 am – 5 pm (Last admission at 4:30 pm)
Closed: 14 Jan., from 29 Dec. to 2 Jan., and on Mondays, except for 13 Jan., 24 Feb.
Yamatane Museum of Art official website: https://www.yamatane-museum.jp/
