Japanese painter Reiji Hiramatsu will present 20 of his latest works in Japan ahead of his upcoming exhibition in France. Gallery Sakuranoki Ginza 2024 will relocate and grand open from this exhibition.
2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism. Large-scale commemorative art events will be held around the world. In France, the home of Impressionism, Japanese painter Reiji Hiramatsu, who discovers the essence of Japanese beauty through the eyes of Impressionism, is planning his third solo exhibition, "Reiji Hiramatsu – Water Lily Symphony" (July 12th to November 3rd) at the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny. As a last-minute send-off party in Japan, Gallery Sakuranoki Co., Ltd. (Head office: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Representative: Teiko Iwaseki) will hold "Reiji Hiramatsu Exhibition: Celebrating 150 Years of Impressionism – Hear the Whispers of Hokusai and Monet" at Gallery Sakuranoki Ginza Main Store (relocated and newly opened on April 15th) on the same dates as the first Impressionist exhibition held in 1874, and will present 20 new works painted for this exhibition.
"Mountains and Rivers of Japan" Two-panel folding screen (2024)
Exhibition/Event Details:
Exhibition title: Reiji Hiramatsu Exhibition: Celebrating 150 years since the birth of Impressionism – Hear the whispers of Hokusai and Monet
Dates: Monday, April 15th – Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, 11am-7pm
*Final day: Wednesday, May 15th, until 4pm. Closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.
Venue: Gallery Sakuranoki Ginza
〒104-0061 G4 BRICKS BLD. 7F 4-3-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tel. 03-6228-6646
Artist visit: First day April 15th (Mon) and April 27th (Sat) from 14:00
Summary: A response poem from a modern Japanese painter on the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition (1874). This is a send-off ceremony for Hiramatsu Reiji in the year that his work illuminates the world, and is the first project of the grand opening of Gallery Sakuranoki, which has relocated and become a new gallery space, with the hope that it will become a place that nurtures the art of modern creators. 20 of his latest works (mainly large pieces) will be on display, admission is free, and the exhibition will be on sale.
Download catalogue of exhibited works: https://www.sakuranoki.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/0c182d0ad3bb37049e607139531b6510.pdf
About the First Impressionist Exhibition:
150 years ago, a group exhibition that would later be called the First Impressionist Exhibition was held (April 15 – May 15, 1874, at the studio of photographer Nadar on the Rue des Capucines in Paris).
This was the beginning of an artistic movement sparked by painters themselves in opposition to the extremely conservative Academy of Fine Arts.
At the time, the official title was "The First Exhibition of a Joint Venture Company of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, etc." It is a well-known story that the word "impression" was used derisively in a harsh critical article by a critic published in a newspaper 10 days after the first day of the exhibition, and this led to the birth of the Impressionist movement.
Reiji Hiramatsu, France, and Impressionism:
It was in 1999 that Japanese painter Hiramatsu Reiji began the "Impressionism and Japonism Series," in which he discovered Japanese beauty through the eyes of Impressionist painters, igniting a new passion in the hearts of many Japanese people. Later, in 2013, the "Hiramatsu Reiji Exhibition," held in France, the birthplace of Impressionism, at the request of the Giverny Impressionist Museum, adjacent to the garden where Monet devoted his life, attracted a great response internationally, setting numerous records for both the number of visitors and the number of catalogues sold.
In response to a request from the French government, he held another exhibition in 2018 as part of the commemorations of the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity, Transport and Commerce between Japan and France. For this achievement, he was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic in 2021. His third solo exhibition will be held this summer in France, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism.
Giverny Impressionist Museum, France "Reiji Hiramatsu – Water Lily Symphony" Exhibition Details URL:
https://www.mdig.fr/en/exhibitions-and-activities/exhibitions/hiramatsu-reiji-symphony-of-water-lilies/
Over the past decade, the Giverny Museum of Impressionism has acquired 88 works by Hiramatsu Reiji, mainly large-scale pieces, to add to its core collection, forming a major collection that will be protected by France for many years to come and be shared with the world.
"Late Autumn Pond, Giverny, France" Two-panel folding screen (2024)
Profile of Reiji Hiramatsu:
Hiramatsu Reiji (Japanese painter) Currently independent Member of the Japan Artists Association (General Incorporated Association) Council Member of the Japan Art Foundation Visiting Professor, School of International Liberal Arts, Juntendo University Honorary Director, Yugawara Museum of Art Honorary Doctor, Aichi University
[Main storage locations]
Giverny Impressionist Museum (France), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Hakone Lake Ashinoko Narukawa Museum of Art, Yamatane Museum of Art, MOA Museum of Art, Yugawara Museum of Art, Japanese Embassy in France, Delegation of Japan to the OECD, and many others
Born in Tokyo in 1941, moved to Aichi Prefecture at the age of 5
1961 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Asahioka High School Art Course
1965 Graduated from Aichi University
1977: Won the Soga Exhibition Sogakai Award and the Spring Exhibition Award
1989: Winner of the Grand Prize at the 10th Yamatane Museum of Art Award
1994 – 2005: Professor at Tama Art University's Faculty of Art and Design
In 2000, he was in charge of the cover art for the January issue of Bungeishunju (until the December issue of 2010).
Winner of the 12th MOA Okada Mokichi Award Grand Prize
2006: The Hiramatsu Reiji Museum opens at the Yugawara Museum of Art
2011: Held the exhibition "50 Years of Painting: Reiji Hiramatsu" at the Nagoya City Art Museum
2013: Held the exhibition "Reiji Hiramatsu's Water Lily Pond: A Homage to Monet" at the Giverny Impressionist Museum in France. Broadcast of "The Life-Changing Water Lily Garden: Reiji Hiramatsu's Dialogue with Monet" on Sunday Art Museum (NHK).
2014: Held the exhibition "Reiji Hiramatsu: Water Lilies Homage to Monet" at the State Museum of Asian Art in Berlin, Germany
2015: Exhibited at the "Ogata Korin 300th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Irises and Red and White Plum Blossoms, Korin Art, Korin and Contemporary Art" (MOA Museum of Art)
In 2017, the exhibition "Reiji Hiramatsu – Japonism that captivates the world" was held at the Narukawa Museum of Art in Lake Ashinoko, Hakone
As part of the French planning for "Japonisme 2018," a commemorative event marking the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and France in 2018,
"Reiji Hiramatsu in Giverny" exhibition held at the Giverny Impressionist Museum in France
2021: Received the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic
In 2024, the 90m long series of 14 folding screens, "Water Lily Symphony," will be collected by the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny, France. The Museum of Impressionism in Giverny, France will hold the "Reiji Hiramatsu – Water Lily Symphony" exhibition to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism.
About Gallery Sakuranoki Ginza:
Gallery Sakuranoki is a gallery specializing in "primary works (works that are primarily distributed in the art world)" that arrive from the studios of contemporary artists both in Japan and abroad. We introduce art works full of the vitality of beauty in a wide range of genres. We have galleries in Ginza and Karuizawa, and our Ginza main store is relocating this spring. The space has an impressive sense of openness and texture. This exhibition will be our grand opening.
We are committed to creating a place for interaction between collectors who love culture and the arts and pioneering artists.
URL: www.sakuranoki.co.jp
Exhibition CG
Exhibition CG
Gallery Sakuranoki Co., Ltd.
Gallery Sakuranoki is a gallery specializing in "primary works (works that are primarily distributed in the art world)" that arrive from the studios of contemporary artists both in Japan and abroad. We introduce a wide range of genres of artists' works that are full of vitality and beauty. We have galleries in Ginza and Karuizawa, and our Ginza main store will be relocated this spring. The space has an impressive sense of openness and texture. We will have our grand opening on April 15, 2024.
Every month, we alternate between special exhibitions created in collaboration with popular artists and exhibitions showcasing a wide variety of new works. We are committed to creating a forum for interaction between collectors who love art and pioneering artists.
URL: www.sakuranoki.co.jp
[From Gallery Sakuranoki Co., Ltd.'s press release ]
<Past related articles>
A photo exhibition where you can enjoy masterpieces of the 20th century, "The Origin of Street Photography", will be held at Ginza Hikohiko Gallery from April 30th
Andy Summers photo exhibition held at Leica Gallery Tokyo and Leica Gallery Kyoto