TOKYO ART PICKS (OCTOBER)

"Good-by Marilyn" (video, 1971) Keiichi Tanaami

Tokyo is the art capital of the World in terms of the number of actual eyeballs on artworks, so what is on offer in October as the insane heat of Summer starts to drop off slightly? TOKYO-MET offers its picks.

KEIICHI TANAAMI: ADVENTURES IN MEMORY

The expansive spaces of Roppongi's NATIONAL ART CENTRE TOKYO is ideal for large colourful shows, so it's fitting they are holding this major retrospective of the work of Keiichi Tanaami, whose 60-year career has seen a recent surge in critical acclaim. Starting as a graphic designer, he became the first art director of the Japanese edition of Playboy, and then rolled that into a career as an "underground artist" with an outpouring of paintings, collages, sculptures, animations, and installations. These reveal his distinctive aesthetic, full of energy, chaos, surrealism, and colour. Now - Nov 11th. PRICE ¥2000! Read more here.

Exhibition trailer

PARIS AND LE BELLE EPOQUE

The PANASONIC SHIODOME MUSEUM OF ART is well known for producing well-designed mid-sized exhibitions. Their latest show brings together a variety of items to capture the mood and magic of Paris in its golden age, the two or three decades before WWI. Included are paintings by Renoir and Mucha, posters by Toulouse-Lautrec and Chéret, clothes and trinkets of the time, and decorative glass works by Émile Gallet and René Lalique. Many of the items are shown in Japan for the first time. Oct 5th - Dec 15th. PRICE: ¥1,200. Read more here.

Jules Chéret, "Moulin Rouge," 1889

EXPLOSION!! KAWASAKI CITY 100 YEARS STORY

Kawasaki City celebrated the 100th anniversary of its municipal incorporation this year, so it's no surprise that KAWASAKI CITY MUSEUM has organised an exhibition to show that it isn't just a bit of urban sprawl between Tokyo and Yokohama, but is its own place with a unique vibe and history. The exhibitions, which are FREE, feature posters, objects, and various artworks at a couple of venues in the city. Oct 11th - Feb 24th, 2025. See here for details.

Exhibition flyer

TERENCE CONRAN: MAKING MODERN BRITAIN

When living standards started to rise sharply after WWII, Terence Conran was there to show people how to spend their money stylishly, adding greatly to the texture of life in Britain and elsewhere. His generous utilitarian aesthetic was also a big hit in Japan. This exhibition at the TOKYO STATION GALLERY brings together 300 works and materials, including early products such as tableware and textiles, furniture designs, and items for shops and restaurants by the iconic designer, who passed away in 2020. Oct 12th - Jan 5th. PRICE: ¥1500. Read more here. 

Photo Estate © of Raymond Williams in 1952