Always by Our Side: Cats Exhibition

About this event

This exhibition traces a digest of the 100-year history of Japanese picture books while introducing the diverse world of "cat" picture books that continue to inspire new creative works today. Part 1 showcases the evolution of cat depictions through original drawings published in pictorial magazines from the 1880s to the 1940s. Original drawings created by Rakuten Kitazawa, Tomoyoshi Murayama, and Kiichi Okamoto, who were active in the highly artistic pictorial magazines of the Taisho period, are also exhibited. Part 2 focuses on cat picture book illustrations created across generations by various painters from the 1950s to the present day. It introduces original picture book drawings by a wide range of artists, from those who began working on picture books in the 1960s such as Keiko Sena and Seizo Tashima, to painters of various generations including Yuki Sasameya, Mirocomachiko, Chiki Kikuchi, and Kaya Doi. In addition, rough sketches and dummy books that offer a glimpse into the production process are displayed, exploring each artist's creative process. Cats, which have continued to captivate many people's hearts, are representative pets alongside dogs and were featured in children's magazines and picture books from early on. Their appearance has been depicted in numerous works by various painters as distinctive protagonists and sometimes as charming supporting characters. Explore their irresistible charm.

Venue

Tonami Art Museum

145-1 Takamichi, Tonami, Toyama 939-1383