Medicine and Art

There is a fascinating museum called "La Specola" in Florence. It is a Museum of Zoology and Natural History, and they are famous for their collection of anatomical wax figures. The 18the century artifacts are gruesome in one respect, but utterly beautiful from purely aesthetic point of view. Since these wax figures were created for medical purposes, we don't learn about them in art history. However, I believe that they at least belong to the back-door of art.

Medical science has had a close affinity with art. As a highlight of this exhibition, three anatomical sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, infers, artists in the past studied human body to improve or perfect their representational skills. Unlike other exhibitions dealing with the same subject, this exhibition showcases not only works of art but also medical artifacts. This is a very unique opportunity. I definitely would like to take advantage of it with some of you.

Location: Mori Art Museum Access Map
Time: 4:00 PM
Admission Fee: ¥1,500
Description of the Exhibition

Chat session after the show
As usual, let's have a chat session after the show. When we meet up before the exhibition, let's decide where we go after the show.

Afternoon at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

There are a few interesting exhibitions taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. The most interesting one among them for me is a solo exhibition of Rebecca Horn. Horn is one of the most renowned German artists in her generation. In her career, she has been engaging in performance pieces and creating beautiful yet playful kinetic objects and art installations. I saw her retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in 1993, and truly enjoyed her works. I would like to see them again in this exhibition and spend the rest of afternoon at the museum to check out two shows on fashion. Hope some of you are interested in joining me.

First Show: Rebecca Horn:Rebellion in Silence Dialogue between Raven and Whale
Admission Fee: ¥1,200
Description of the Exhibition
Description of the Exhibition in Tokyo Art Beat

Second Show: SWEDISH FASHION: Exploring a New Identity
Admission Fee: Free
Description of the Exhibition
Description of the Exhibition in Tokyo Art Beat

Third Show: Luxury in fashion Reconsidered
Admission Fee: ¥1,200
Description of the Exhibition
Description of the Exhibition in Tokyo Art Beat

You can join us from any point. If you decide to do so, please let me know. I will provide my cellphone number to you, so you can find us when you get to the museum.

Chat session after the show
As usual, let's have a chat session after the show. When we meet up before the exhibition, let's decide where we go after the show.

Museum Hopping 5: Ancient Roman and Tibetan Art in Ueno

There are interesting exhibitions taking place in Ueno. One of them is about Ancient Roman art, and the other is about Tibetan art. Both exhibitions supposedly showcase top notch artifacts from the respective cultures. The Ancient Roman show features approximately 120 fascinating works from the collections of the Naples National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli) and other museums throughout Italy. The Tibetan one is the first comprehensive exhibition of fine arts from Tibet in Japan. I am sure you have seen captivating posters of these shows somewhere in Tokyo. Hopefully some of you are interested in taking advantage of opportunities to check out these great exhibitions with me.

First Spot: The National Museum of Western Art (Web Site)
Meeting Time: 01:00PM (13:00)
Meeting Spot: Around the Ticket Booth
Exhibition to see: L’eredità dell’Impero romano
Museum Admission Fee: ¥1,500
Description of the Exhibition
Official Site for the Exhibition (Japanese)

Second Spot: Ueno Royal Museum (About the Museum)
Meeting Time: 03:30PM (15:30)
Meeting Spot: Around the Ticket Booth
Exhibition to see: Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World
Museum Admission Fee: ¥1,400
Official Site for the Exhibition

If you choose to check out just one of the shows above, you can either leave after the first museum or join from the second one. However, if you do so, please let me know which museum you are interested in checking out.

Chat session after the show
After the first museum, we will take a coffee break, and after the second museum, we will have a chat session over coffee or some drinks.

Movie: Dance Film Variation - Maurice Béjart

Image forum will screen a series of films associated to dance from September 19th. The series is called "Dance Film Variation," and covers a great number of pivotal dancers/choreographers of 20th century from Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, to William Forsythe. This seems to be an amazing opportunity to see dance films to which we usually don't have any access, and I am planning to catch as many films as possible during the screenings. To start, I would like to see films of/about the works of Maurice Béjart. Some of you are probably aware of him. Béjart found the 20th Century Ballet and redefined choreography for Ballet performances. Through the screening, we will be able to see his staple choreographic work in "Borelo," and dances of his protégé, Jorge Donn. If you are interested in dance, but don't know who Béjart is. I highly recommend you to join me to see the films. You may not like his style, but he is definitely an important choreographer whom you need to know to talk about the history of dance in the second half of 20th century.

Location: Image Forum (web site)
Time: 8:45 PM (The screenings Start at 9PM)
Admission Fee: ¥1,300

Web page for Dance Film Variation (Japanese)
Description for the Program B: Maurice Béjart (Japanese)

Chat session after the show
As usual, let's have a chat session after the show. When we meet up before the exhibition, let's decide where we go after the show.

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial is an art festival held once every three years in the rural landscape of Echigo-Tsumari in Niigata prefecture, taking place until 13th September 2009.
With the concept of "Human beings as part of nature", the approximately 300 artworks by artists from 38 countries deployed in rich natural surroundings, depopulated communities, rice fields,abandoned houses and closed schools. Actually some of interesting works are scattered around the 760-km2 area and it's tough to cover all works on foot/by local public bus.
I'm wondering if some of you are interested in and sure to come joining to charter a mini-bus + a professional driver (42,000yen for 10persons) to explore the area amid mountains and check out artworks in customized route for the group.
If we can make it, we are going to check out of Christian Boltanski+Jean Kalman, Claude Leveque, Chiharu Shiota, Richard Deacon, Kiyoshi Takizawa, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Yayooi Kusama, Stasys & Kolodziejski etc. as much as possible.

About The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial;
http://universes-in-universe.org:80/eng/bien/echigo_tsumari_triennial/2009

Plan (draft)
6:45 Meet at Ikebukuro Station
7:00 We take High-way bus to Niigata
10:00 Arrive at Muikamachi highway bus stop
10:10 Take chartered bus
-Explore and check out art works in natural surroundings
19:00 Take Highway bus back for Tokyo
22:20 Arrive at Ikebukuro Station

*As for the ticket of highway bus, I will book your seat tentatively and give you the booking number. Then your booking will be confirmed once you completed the payment at the convenience store directly to the bus company. Hope this way would work well.
*Since some of artworks are located at the top of hill, please be prepared with comfortable shoes for hiking.

Cost
Art Festival Admission passport: JPY 3,000
Transportation:
-High way bus between Tokyo and Muikamachi: JPY5,960/ round trip
-Chartered bus for local transportation: JPY 4,200/one person