Art Museum|Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum

Information

2011 Summary of Art Museum-Sponsored Planned and Permanent Exhibitions
Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

[Planned Exhibitions]
Shōmei Tōmatsu Photography Exhibition “Love Letters to the Sun”

Friday, September 23 - Sunday, November 20th (2011)

Okinawa is made up of many islands, and each island possesses its own individual natural and cultural characteristics as well as unique historical backgrounds. For these reasons, Okinawa is constantly regarded as an ideal subject by photographers, and numerous photographers have created works with Okinawa as their subject. Among these photographers, one of the most important figures is Shōmei Tōmatsu (1930~ ). He has continually photographed Okinawa for over 40 years since his first visit to Okinawa in 1969, and the impact he has had on other Japanese and Okinawan photographers is immeasurable. With a focus on photographs taken in Okinawa, this exhibition will look back on Shōmei Tōmatsu’s 40 years of work centered on Okinawa and attempt to close in on his photographical ideology.

Seikichi Tamanaha Exhibition

Wednesday, January 11 - Sunday, March 11 (2012)

Seikichi Tamanaha (1918-1984) studied sculpture at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (currently Tokyo University of the Arts) and was a pioneer in the creation of genuine works of sculpture in Okinawa. He took part in the creation of works such as the Himeyuri Monument. This exhibition provides a look into the essence of Tamanaha’s works which consist of both sculptures and paintings.

[Collection Exhibitions]

[First Period]

Saturday, May 14 - Sunday, September 4 (2011)

1. Zenkichi Hirata Exhibition - Okinawan Who Studied at Tokyo School of Fine Arts

Before World War II, Zenkichi Hirata (1901-1989) studied in the drawing instructor’s course at Tokyo School of Fine Arts and also served as instructor of fine arts at Tajimi Women’s High School in Gifu Prefecture and Okinawa Instructors’ College. After the War, Hirata put his energy into high school education for many years, holding consecutive posts including the first principal of Hentona High School as well as superintendent of education of Chinen District. Although pre-war paintings such as those he painted at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts were lost in the Battle of Okinawa, this exhibition provides a look into the personage of Zenkichi Hirata through the few works and materials he created post-war.

2. Artists of the Nishimui Art Village

Following World War II, individuals including Aijun Natoyama and Masayoshi Adaniya founded the Nishimui Arts Village in the Shuri district of Naha in 1947, which focused on the revival of Okinawan art. This exhibition displays the works of artists who studied there.

3. Sightseeing - A Journey Into Okinawan Art (First Period)

The 20th century was a period of remarkable growth in sea transportation. During the 1930s in Japan, the South Sea Islands and Okinawa, which were under mandatory rule at the time, were popular destinations for sightseeing tours. Many Japanese artists boarded ships from Osaka and set out in search of exotic source of material. The course of Okinawan art is introduced daily in Collection Gallery #3. This time, however, a theme has been established such that one can come to understand Okinawa from pre-war times through works of art.