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Exhibition/event has ended.

"Crafting a Modern World: The Architecture and Design of Antonin and Noémi Raymond" Exhibition

Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura

Finished

Artists

Antonin Raymond, Noémi Raymond, Maekawa Kunio, Yoshimura Junzo, Masuzawa Jun, George Nakashima

The work of Antonin Raymond (1888-1976) and Noémi Pernessin Raymond (1889-1980) sheds a new light on the cultural dialog between Japan and the rest of the world. The couple's surprising encounter with Japanese culture (1919-1937, 1948-1973) that totaled over 40 years and their interim activity in eastern America (1938-1947) was based on local traits, materials and living conditions and succeeded in assembling the creativity of Europe, America and Asia. Architecture, furniture and textile designed by the Raymonds showed new possibilities and regard for traditional Japanese aestheticism. The Rayonds' footsteps and works that extend throughout the world overturn our conception of global/local as well as foreign/real, and vividly point out an alternative way of broaching modernism.

This exhibition was realized with the collaboration of American, European and Japanese researchers. Over 200 pieces including blueprints, photos, maquettes, furnitures, textiles, paintings, sculptures and videos covering their 60-year partnership will be on display. The first works are from the First World War when Czech born Antonin married French born Noémi and moved to America, then the 1920s when they arrived in Tokyo accompanied by Frank Lloyd Wright for the construction of the Imperial Hotel (Teikoku Hotel). Next are Antonin's works from the 1930s that made him one of the leading figures of modernism, succeeded by works in New Hope during World War II, and finally works installed throughout Japan during his post-war mature period when he revisited the country. For further understanding of the contribution made by Antonin Raymond to Japanese modern architecture, works by architects who studied under him such as Maekawa Kunio, Yoshimura Junzo, Masuzawa Jun and George Nakashima.

-Raymond Commemorative Symposium
Date: September 16th, 13:00-
Location: Kamakura Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall (Kamakura-shi, Onarimachi 17-29, 5 min. walk from Kamakura Station West Exit)
Scheduled speakers: Ken Oshima (Washington University associate professor), Christine Vandoldi-Ozano (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne associate professor), Hiroshi Matsukuma (Kyoto Institute of Technology associate professor), others
* Please see website for reservations and details.

-Gallery Talks: September 21st (Fri), October 12th (Fri), 14:00-

[Image: Summer Home in Karuizawa, 1933,
Raymond Collection, The Architectural Archives,
University of Pennsylvania]

Schedule

Sep 15 (Sat) 2007-Oct 21 (Sun) 2007