Exhibition/event has ended.

Aves Japonicae - Birds in Japan

Intermediatheque
Finished
In August, the JP Tower Museum Intermediatheque (IMT) opens the special exhibition “Aves Japonicae – Birds in Japan.” Human beings have long been watching nature, including birds. How did the ancient Japanese see birds? In Japan, natural science in its contemporary meaning was introduced from the West and quickly spread after the Meiji era. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the Japanese did not watch and study birds before the importation of European science. The present exhibition showcases a copy of Baien-kinpu drawn by Motohisa Mouri in the late Edo era. This is a part of Baien-gafu, a leading illustrated reference book from the Edo era. Stuffed specimens on loan from the Yamashina Institute of Ornithology are also presented beside the drawings, providing the same viewpoint as the painter who drew the birds. The Japanese have found beauty in birds and have expressed it in numerous ways. One of them is the feather brushes used for tea ceremony (Cha no yu). Feather brushes were originally practical tools used to swipe dust before serving as ceremonial and symbolical articles for purification. This small tool is made with minimal artificial treatment so as not to spoil its natural beauty, and the artist has not dyed or clipped the feather. Please have a look at the different ways the Japanese have stared at the birds.

Schedule

Aug 5 (Tue) 2014-Dec 28 (Sun) 2014 

Opening Hours Information

Hours
11:00-18:00
Closes at 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Closed
Monday
Open on a public holiday Monday but closed on the following day.
Closed during the New Year holidays.
FeeFree
VenueIntermediatheque
http://www.intermediatheque.jp/en/
Location2F, 3F JP Tower 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7003
Access1 minute walk from the Marunouchi South exit of JR Tokyo Station, 2 minute walk from exit 4 at Nijubashimae Station on the Chiyoda line.
Phone050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
Related images

Click on the image to enlarge it