Exhibition/event has ended.
Reika Kikkawa "An Explorer for Lines in Modern Times"
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
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Artists
Reika Kikkawa
Perhaps there are not so many people that know the name Kikkawa Reika (1875-1929) nowadays.
Reika was born in Yushima, Tokyo. After learning ukiyo-e and painting of the Kano school, influenced by Matsubara Sukehisa, who was a scholar of practices in ancient court and samurai families, he looked up to Reizei Tamechika, an artist of the Revived Yamato-e school in the last days of the Tokugawa regime, and studied yamato-e. Even though he became known in the art world having formed Kinrei-sha together with Kaburaki Kiyokata, Hirafuku Hyakusui, and others in 1916, he kept away from large exhibitions such as the Teiten and maintained an attitude of his own in exploring pictorial representation.
To describe Reika’s works, one might say they are a world of graceful and limpid line drawings. Basing his lines on that of yamato-e, he studied classical art of the Orient extensively in pursuit of the beauty of line drawing and restored pictorial representation featuring lines in modern times. Being very different from glamorous exhibition art, Reika’s art may seem unique as modern art. However, even without mentioning the revival of Rimpa and nanga, his efforts, which brought about a distinctive style of painting based on classical art, may, in a certain sense, be regarded a symbol of modern art.
If the artists who studied line drawing at the beginning of the Showa period were to be classified collectively, Reika would no doubt be identified as one of the most important artists among them.
It is approximately thirty years since the last retrospective of works by Kikkawa Reika was held. Having surveyed over 400 works beforehand, here, we selected approximately 100 finished works and studies in an attempt to re-evaluate this artist. In Reika’s own words, “the ideal of proper tradition is restoration and, at the same time, the future.” Likewise, we hope that this exhibition will provide powerful impetus for today’s artistic expressions, too.
Reika was born in Yushima, Tokyo. After learning ukiyo-e and painting of the Kano school, influenced by Matsubara Sukehisa, who was a scholar of practices in ancient court and samurai families, he looked up to Reizei Tamechika, an artist of the Revived Yamato-e school in the last days of the Tokugawa regime, and studied yamato-e. Even though he became known in the art world having formed Kinrei-sha together with Kaburaki Kiyokata, Hirafuku Hyakusui, and others in 1916, he kept away from large exhibitions such as the Teiten and maintained an attitude of his own in exploring pictorial representation.
To describe Reika’s works, one might say they are a world of graceful and limpid line drawings. Basing his lines on that of yamato-e, he studied classical art of the Orient extensively in pursuit of the beauty of line drawing and restored pictorial representation featuring lines in modern times. Being very different from glamorous exhibition art, Reika’s art may seem unique as modern art. However, even without mentioning the revival of Rimpa and nanga, his efforts, which brought about a distinctive style of painting based on classical art, may, in a certain sense, be regarded a symbol of modern art.
If the artists who studied line drawing at the beginning of the Showa period were to be classified collectively, Reika would no doubt be identified as one of the most important artists among them.
It is approximately thirty years since the last retrospective of works by Kikkawa Reika was held. Having surveyed over 400 works beforehand, here, we selected approximately 100 finished works and studies in an attempt to re-evaluate this artist. In Reika’s own words, “the ideal of proper tradition is restoration and, at the same time, the future.” Likewise, we hope that this exhibition will provide powerful impetus for today’s artistic expressions, too.
Schedule | Jun 12 (Tue) 2012-Jul 29 (Sun) 2012 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Adults ¥850, University Students ¥450, High and Junior High School Students or younger, Those over the age of 65, Those with physical or mental disabilities and one attendant free, Special Exhibition Fees are charged separately. | ||||
| Venue | The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo http://www.momat.go.jp/english  | ||||
| Location | 3-1 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8322 | ||||
| Access | 3 minute walk from exit 1b at Takebashi Station on the Tozai line. 5 minute walk from exit 4 at Kudanshita Station on the Hanzomon and Tozai lines or Toei Shinjuku line. 15 minute walk from exit A1 at Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku and Mita lines or Hanzomon line. | ||||
| Phone | 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial) | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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