Times Of TIU

Writer: Kimmi C.
Editor: Isabelle L.
Translator: Hibiki K

Introduction

Analyzing art seems like an activity that only pretentious, performative people do. However, that is simply not the case. Visiting an art museum is more than just looking at pretty, or sometimes ugly, paintings and sculptures. It is an opportunity to learn about culture, history, and ideas. Having contact with art transcends language and helps us feel connected to other people from completely different walks of life.

Even though most of the famous museums in the world, such as the Louvre or MoMA, are located outside Japan, Tokyo actually has a lot of museums that host astounding exhibitions and permanent collections. Whether it is traditional Japanese art such as Ukiyo-e and Sumi-e to international icons such as Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci, Tokyo has got you covered with the sheer variety of museums that can be found.

Whether you are an art connoisseur or someone who has never even thought about art before, these museums are definitely worth your time!

Ueno Park Museums

One of the best places to enjoy art in Tokyo is Ueno Park. The area is well known for its interesting museums, filled with wonderful and grand collections. The area houses 6 museums, each covering different topics such as culture, history, science, and art. In this article, we will focus on two museums that TIU students should visit.

The first notable museum is the National Museum of Western Art. When people think about art, they think of artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and other Western artists. Luckily, the National Museum of Western Art has us covered. Featuring an extensive collection of Western paintings, sculptures, and other types of art, the museum offers Japanese residents a glimpse of the Western world without having to book an expensive flight. The best part? The museum is free for TIU students!

The second museum is the Tokyo National Museum, although not labeled as an “art” museum, it boasts the largest collection of Japanese and Asian art in Tokyo. The museum houses ancient art from the Jomon period, literature from the imperial court, Ukiyo-e, and much more. If you want to be immersed in Japanese history and art, this is the place for you to go. Like the National Museum of Western Art and other museums in Ueno Park, entry is free for TIU students.

Regardless of where you end up going, you are going to be astounded by the sheer amount of history and craftsmanship that can be witnessed in these museums. If you have a whole day, I also recommend going to multiple museums, as the museums are within walking distance of each other.

Mori Art Museum, Roppongi (Student discounts available)

The Mori Art Museum is the perfect Museum for contemporary art lovers. Unlike the first two museums that hold a large permanent collection of various artists, The Mori Art Museum focuses on one artist in a large-scale exhibition. This style of museum really goes well with visitors who want to get an in-depth view of a certain artist and their collections.

The museum has held exhibitions on many famous contemporary Japanese and international artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Ai Wei Wei, Louise Bourgoise, and Takashi Murakami. The exhibitions change every few months, so it is good to check their website and advertisements to see which artist is being exhibited in the museum. Tickets cost about 2500 Yen, but student discounts are available, which brings it down to about 1400 yen.

The current exhibition is focused on Ron Mueck, an Australian sculptor who is famous for his massive, hyperrealistic sculptures that deal with the human condition. The Exhibition ends on the 23rd of September, and will be replaced with Mariko Mori’s exhibition. 

National Art Center, Roppongi 

The National Art Center is another example of a museum that does rotating exhibitions. The museum is known for its architecture. A light-filled atrium made out of glass, designed to regulate solar heat, and blend in with the surrounding greenery. 

Aside from its breathtaking architecture, the museum also hosts many exhibitions varying in genres from fashion to Japanese Calligraphy. Currently, the exhibitions of Hanae Mori’s haute couture and the famous designer Paul Smith’s interpretation of Picasso are being held in the museum. In September, the museum is going to hold an exhibition on Renaissance art featuring works from the Louvre Museum, a great opportunity for people who want to experience Musée du Louvre without having to go to Paris.

The building of the museum is free to enter, but specialized exhibitions will cost around 2000 Yen. Student discounts are available, which will bump down the price to around 1300 yen, which is a great deal for the interesting exhibitions that are held in this museum.

Art Museum Tips and Tricks

As mentioned many times throughout this article, many art museums in Japan offer student discounts and even free entry for university students. Since TIU is part of the  “Campus Members” program, the TIU student ID is a key that will unlock the gates of many museums in Tokyo. The key thing is to always bring your student ID and make sure that the sticker is updated. Not all museums offer this deal, so it is important to double-check before you come to the museum. Most paid museums also offer student discounts and early bird sales, so make sure to check the official sites for these museums.

Appreciating art can be a deceivingly hard skill to have. Art is an inherently subjective concept and is always open to interpretation. While it is easy to form opinions about art haphazardly, in order to truly appreciate art, it is very important to understand a wide range of knowledge covering history, culture, and artistic intent. 

For example, to the uninformed, Picasso’s cubist paintings can look like a bunch of childlike scribbles done by a pretentious artist. However, once we dig deeper into the history of Picasso, we can see his journey going from an art prodigy who produced highly realistic paintings to an artist who broke down conventions and perspective itself. After many years of painting, Picasso did not forget how to paint, but he discovered a new way of approaching art. Like a Greek philosopher laying down the basis of how we think, Picasso laid the groundwork for many contemporary artists. By knowing the journey of an artist and their intent, the viewer is able to appreciate art even more deeply. Never judge an artwork based on a first glance. Try to read the given descriptions. If an artwork or an artist captivates you, do more research about them.

My last piece of advice ties back to knowing a wide range of information. When visiting an art museum, try to do a brief search about what you are going to be seeing. For example, if you are planning to go to the Renaissance exhibition being held in the National Art Center, it would be good to research a little bit about the Renaissance period, its key features, and many of its notable artists. That way, you can get into the exhibition knowing what to look for, and allowing you to have more time to let the artworks seep into your mind.

General Etiquette

Even though going to a museum can be extremely exciting, it is always important to remember the rules and etiquette of going to a museum, especially one that holds priceless art.

First, always be aware of the amount of space you have with an artwork. Since museums can get crowded, if you are not aware of space, it is very easy to bump into other visitors and even risk having artworks being damaged. Most museums will have barriers and lines that indicate how much space is needed between the artwork and the visitor, so always remember to pay attention to them.

Second, always be mindful of other people. Make sure that you are not blocking people’s view of an artwork, and try to speak quietly. Appreciating art requires introspection and analysis, so it is very important to keep the environment of an art museum peaceful and tranquil. 

Lastly, follow the museum rules. There are some obvious rules, such as no foods and drinks, no touching artworks, and much more. There are some less obvious rules, such as photography rules.  Some museums prohibit any photography, while some prohibit only flash photography. There is usually a sign that tells visitors about these rules, so make sure not to ignore them. Even if you do not understand Japanese, most of these rules are conveyed in English or even through icons, so no excuses! 

Conclusion

Even if you are a business or international relations student, appreciating art is an essential skill to have. Not only does it teach people how to analyze information deeply, but it also teaches us about humanity, history, morality, and much more. As international-minded people, we need to learn about other cultures and how people express certain situations. Whether you go to the Ueno Park museums for free, or head to the Mori Art Museum to check out impactful exhibitions, good art will always leave a lasting impression on the viewer.