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Summertime in Japan : Tokyo Art Marathon part 1

Mori_Yayoi_Kusama
Yayoi Kusama, Love Is Calling, 2013. Installation view. Photo by M-KOS

Summer in Tokyo started off cooler than usual in the first few weeks of our stay, followed by heatwaves shining through the city streets, filled with polyphonic soundscapes of cicadas. Luckily most art spaces were still open despite the solstice mood, for M-KOS to present its Tokyo art marathon report:

Mori Art Museum celebrates its 10th anniversary with the exhibition entitled “All You Need Is LOVE” showcasing about 200 artworks such as modern masters Marc Shagall, Constantin Brancusi and Fridha Karlo, contemporary greats David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama and Jeff Koons, as well as younger generations Richard Billingham, Shilpa Gupta and Masashi Asada and “virtual” popstar Miku Hatsune. The exhibition was laid out over five sub-themed to include: What is Love?; A Couple in Love; Love is Losing; Family and Love; Love Beyond. (through 1 September 2013)
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Art Marathon: Tokyo, part 1

Unlike most other Asian countries (Happy Lunar New Year of Dragon, BTW), Japan celebrates its new year on the first of January. For this occasion, three days of public holidays are followed by another long holiday weekend, celebrating the coming-of-age of 20 year olds. Many Japanese art galleries see a slow start to the year, as the country settles into holiday activities such as soaking in hot springs. Nevertheless, M-KOS still found a few good art galleries to visit in Tokyo, although this is not our usual long winded marathon. Here is a taster what we’ve seen (part one of three).

SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
Nobuko Tsuchiya: We Are Living In A Time Machine (18 Nov 2011 – 28 Jan 2012)


Situated in the neighbourhood of Yanaka where many traditional houses can recall a period townscape, the gallery SCAI THE BATHHOUSE refurbished what used to be a public bathhouse (Sento), and to this day kept the original facade. Courtesy SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. Photo by M-KOS

Exhibition view. 11th Dimension Project 1 (left) & 2 (right), 2011. Courtesy the artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. Photo by M-KOS

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