Ikuo Hirayama & the Heritage of the Silk Road

Sogo Museum of Art

Finished

Artists

Ikuo Hirayama

Known as a major star in Japanese painting, Ikuo Hirayama (1930-2009) was long-time president of Nihon Bijutsuin (Japan Art Institute) and focused his energies not only on the Japanese art world, but also on the preservation of cultural property from around the globe. He was born in Hiroshima Prefecture and later graduated from Tokyo Art School (presently: Tokyo University of the Arts). Influenced by his experience of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at the age of 15, Hirayama’s early paintings depicting Buddhist themes began receiving attention, these works in turn sparking his interest in walking the Silk Road in pursuit of the origins of Japanese culture. He began following the road, which was not only a path for civilization but also the route by which Buddhism traveled to the East, in 1968, continuing his journey for 40 years thereafter. This exhibition will introduce roughly 170 cultural items gathered from various countries by Hirayama together with his wife Michiko, including precious gold and silver jewelry and other artifacts unique to specific regions. They are presented alongside around 40 paintings by Hirayama, recording his travels along the Silk Road, befre and after depictions of the destroyed Buddhas of Bamiyan, his wall painting at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, and other subjects. The attraction of Hirayama’s art and the culture of the Silk Road are interwoven with the perspective of the artist and his wife.

[Related Events]
Lecture: Ikuo Hirayama and his preservation of cultural heritage
Event Date: Oct. 28 (Sat) 14:00-
Venue: Inside the exhibition space at Sogo Museum of Art
Speaker: Masaaki Miyasako (Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School)
Capacity: 40
Admission: ¥500

Lecture: Ikuo Hirayama and the Silk Road
Event Date: Nov. 4 (Sat) 14:00-
Venue: Inside the exhibition space at Sogo Museum of Art
Speaker: Tamon Goto (Director of Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art)
Capacity: 40
Admission: ¥500

*Please see the official website for booking.
*Events in Japanese.

Schedule

Oct 27 (Fri) 2017-Dec 3 (Sun) 2017

Opening Hours Information

Hours	10:00-20:00
Closed	Depends on Closed days of Sogo Yokohama

Fee

Adults: ¥1000, University and High School Students: ¥800, Junior High School Students and Under: Free.

Venue

Sogo Museum of Art

Location

6F Sogo Yokohama, 2-18-1 Takashima, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 220-8510

Open with a Map App

Access

3 minute walk from the East exit of the JR Yokohama Station.

Phone

045-465-5515

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