Best Exhibitions Starting in November 2023
Olafur Eliasson “Firefly biosphere (falling magma star)” 2023 Photo: Jens Ziehe © 2023 Olafur Eliasson
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Tokyo Art Beat presents a selection of the best exhibitions opening in November 2023. Bookmark the exhibitions on the TAB website or TAB app and never miss the openings and closings.
- Shinji Ohmaki: Interface of Being
- Oi Katsushika “‘Night Scene in the Yoshiwara’ - Charm of Hand Paintings”
- Art Week Tokyo 2023
- The “Habitats” of Modern Japanese Paintings
- Ueno Artist Project 2023: Picturing and Touching the Lives of Others — Fungi, Plants, Animals and Humans
- The 120th Anniversary of Tadao Koga’s Birthー The Wonder of Sculpture
- The Work of Shiro Kuramata: A Microcosmos of Memory
- Tokyo Art Book Fair 2023
- Modes and Characters: Poetics of Graphic Design
- Olafur Eliasson “A Harmonious Cycle of Interconnected Nows”
- Hideaki Anno Exhibition
Shinji Ohmaki: Interface of Being
Contemporary artist Shinji Ohmaki is internationally acclaimed for his large-scale installations. In his practice, Ohmaki examines the historical arc that has led contemporary society to its current state and the issues it faces today. His spaces, in which light and darkness play vital roles, are imbued with a sense of primeval life governed by celestial rhythms. This exhibition is dynamically staged in the most extensive gallery of the National Art Center, Tokyo, with a ceiling height of eight meters and a floor space of 2,000 square meters. The installations resonate with viewers on a deeply physical level, evoking a sense of organic integration that we have lost in our fragmented world.
Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
Schedule: November 1 - December 25
Oi Katsushika “‘Night Scene in the Yoshiwara’ - Charm of Hand Paintings”
The exhibition features the unique and captivating works of Oi Katsushika, an Edo-period ukiyo-e artist, and daughter of Hokusai Katsushika. Although only approximately 10 of her works are known to exist, their beauty continues to fascinate the public. Among them, the Night Scene in the Yoshiwara may be one of her most famous hand-drawn paintings, capturing the light and darkness of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters. This exhibition brings together original hand-drawn paintings from the collection of the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, as well as Night Scene in the Yoshiwara, exhibited for the first time in three and a half years.
Venue: Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Schedule: November 1 - November 26
Art Week Tokyo 2023
Organized by the Japan Contemporary Art Platform in collaboration with Art Basel, Art Week Tokyo is an annual event dedicated to showcasing the creativity and diversity of contemporary art in Tokyo. Taking place from November 2 to November 5, Art Week Tokyo will connect 50 art spaces with a free shuttle bus. In addition, “AWT BAR” will offer cocktails created in collaboration with artists and dishes prepared by up-and-coming young chefs. Other programs include exhibition tours for children and students, educational programs for the next generation of art collectors, symposiums, discussions, and online talks with invited curators from Japan and abroad.
Venue: Okura Shukokan Museum of Fine Arts, etc.
Schedule: November 2 - November 5
The “Habitats” of Modern Japanese Paintings
The arrival of Western culture in the Meiji era brought cataclysmic changes to the way painting was perceived. In particular, the introduction of the exhibition system moved Japanese paintings from their former ‘habitat’ of tatami-floored reception rooms (tokonoma) to exhibition venues. The exhibition at the Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum Tokyo will feature a group of Japanese paintings that once decorated the Sumitomo House and rediscover the charm of tokonoma art with contemporary works.
Venue: Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum Tokyo
Schedule: November 2 - December 17
Ueno Artist Project 2023: Picturing and Touching the Lives of Others — Fungi, Plants, Animals and Humans
This exhibition introduces six artists who have been committed to depicting non-human creatures of nature. Featured artists are Michiko Kobayashi, Hisashi Tsuji, Haruo Uchiyama, Hisae Imai, Miho Tomita, and Chisato Abe. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore nature through the eyes of artists who have dedicated themselves to their craft.
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Schedule: November 16 - January 8
The 120th Anniversary of Tadao Koga’s Birthー The Wonder of Sculpture
This exhibition introduces the Saga Prefecture-born sculptor Tadao Koga (1903-1979), who had a studio in Nerima for a long time. The exhibition brings together approximately 30 sculptures made from various materials, as well as other pieces installed in the city and other areas.
Venue: Nerima Art Museum
Schedule: November 17 - February 25
The Work of Shiro Kuramata: A Microcosmos of Memory
Shiro Kuramata (1934-1999) is one of the best-known and most influential designers in the world today. His furniture and interior designs, frequently made of acrylic and glass as well as metal construction materials, possess the power to captivate the viewer. This exhibition, the first solo exhibition of Kuramata’s work in Tokyo in approximately 20 years, traces the designer’s career and presents his journals and sketches, providing context for his creations.
Venue: Setagaya Art Museum
Schedule: November 18 - January 28
Tokyo Art Book Fair 2023
Founded in 2009, the Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) is the first book fair in Japan dedicated to art publications. Held annually, it brings together independent publishers, gallery presses, bookstores, and individual artists and groups from all over the world. The fourth edition of the fair is set to run from November 23 through November 26, 2023. Learn more about special exhibitions and neighborhood events in the news digest.
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Schedule: November 23 - November 26
Modes and Characters: Poetics of Graphic Design
Modes and Characters: Poetics of Graphic Design exhibition focuses on the relationship between text and design. In particular, it aims to understand design after the 1990s, when desktop publishing (DTP) became mainstream in the design world, allowing designers to carry out many processes in producing data for publications and printed matters on PCs. The main exhibition features the works of approximately 50 individuals and teams of graphic designers from Japan and abroad.
Venue: 21_21 Design Sight
Schedule: November 23 - March 10
Olafur Eliasson “A Harmonious Cycle of Interconnected Nows”
The new complex Azabudai Hills will celebrate its opening on November 24 with a solo exhibition of Icelandic–Danish contemporary artist Olafur Eliasson. The exhibition will feature new installations, watercolor paintings, drawings, and three-dimensional works. In addition, a new public artwork, A harmonious cycle of interconnected nows (2023), will be installed in Mori JP Tower. Read more about Azabusai Hills in the latest news article.
Venue: Azabudai Hills Gallery
Schedule: November 24 - March 31
Hideaki Anno Exhibition
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, written and directed by Hideaki Anno, became a blockbuster hit, grossing over 10 billion yen at the box office. This exhibition will explore the full range of his creative activities, from the early works he participated in as an animator to his latest work as a director and producer. On display are a variety of production materials, from scripts, image sketches, storyboards, layouts, and illustrations to miniature sets, all of which are essential to creating unique visual worlds.
Venue: Nagano Prefectural Art Museum
Schedule: November 25 - February 18
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