Temporary Exhibitions
May 31ーJuly 6, 2025
100th Anniversary Nakamura Masayoshi
Greeting
Nakamura Masayoshi, dubbed variously a heretic, a genius, and a hero in troubled times, is regarded as a unique figure in postwar Japanese art.
Born in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture in May of 1924, Nakamura studied under the painter Nakamura Gakuryo (no relation), and displayed great promise when he showed his work in the Nitten (Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition) after the war. Despite being commended by the Nitten members in 1961, he parted ways with his teacher and also withdrew from the group. Subsequently, Nakamura continuously rebelled against the Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) world for its old-fashioned tendencies.
While energetically pursuing a wide range of activities, Nakamura developed close relationships with other artists of the era, and became noteworthy as a powerful force at the center of the storm that enveloped these figures. Nakamura was also an epoch-making artist in his hometown, where he provided friends who lacked a specialized art education with guidance in Nihonga. He also launched the Japanese Art Research Society with the art critic Hariu Ichiro, and engaged in discussions with artists from outside the Nitten (such as Kataoka Tamako, Yokoyama Misao, Asakura Setsu, and Kayama Matazo) about the future of the genre. Moreover, he founded an unconventional art group called the Hitohito-kai with Hoshino Shingo, another Toyohashi native, before arriving at the concept for the Tokyoten arts festival, which involved artists from diverse genres.
At the same time, Nakamura was an artist who placed great emphasis on making connections that transcended genres and generations. For example, he was drawn to the talents of Mikami Makoto, who succumbed to illness before his work could be recognized, and dedicated himself to organizing a retrospective of the artist’s work. He also offered his support for younger painters. Although Nakamura died from disease in the middle of his career at the age of 52, he influenced a variety of painters and others in the art world during his relatively short life. These interactions with other people might be seen as a source of dynamism in his painting.
In addition to providing an overview of Nakamura’s representive works, this exhibition, commemorating the artist’s centenary, introduces works by related artists. It also focuses on Nakamura’s many other activities, including his research on film, stage art, and the ukiyo-e artist Sharaku, and his interest in systematized housing, in order to present a true picture of Nakamura.
Exhibition Period: May 31, 2025 (Saturday) - July 6, 2025 (Sunday)
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays
Admission Fee: Adults = 1,200 yen
College and High School Students = 1,000 yen
Junior High and Elementary School Students = 800 yen
*For further details, please contact the museum.