Natsuyuki Nakanishi: 'An Apparatus Lingering Forever, for a Gentle Gaze'

About this event

The first posthumous retrospective of Natsuyuki Nakanishi (1935-2016), one of postwar Japan's leading painters, will be held at The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki. Through approximately 75 diverse materials including paintings, objects, drawings, and photographs, as well as the 'restoration' of the installation 'Landing and Alighting XIV Izura Coast' (2013) motifed on Rokkakudo in Ibaraki, this exhibition looks back on the trajectory of Nakanishi's half-century of creation. Covering works from his student days to large serial works housed in museums and private collections across Japan, it explores the complete picture of this artist representing postwar Japanese art. Also introduced are photographs and archival materials of legendary performances by the avant-garde art collective 'Hi-Red Center,' formed in the 1960s with Jiro Takamatsu and Genpei Akasegawa, his early signature works utilizing clothespins, and stage design records from collaborations with Butoh dancers such as Tatsumi Hijikata. Based on deep contemplation regarding questions surrounding the genesis of painting and the 'place' where paintings and painters exist, his numerous serial works painted with long-handled brushes invite viewers into an enriching time facing the artworks. In particular, the installation 'Landing and Alighting XIV Izura Coast,' exhibited exclusively at the Ibaraki venue, was conceived following the Great East Japan Earthquake and is one of the key highlights. A section capturing the artist's studio and creative process through photographs is also featured, allowing visitors to experience the site of creation.

Venue

The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki

666-1 Higashikubo, Senbacho, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0851