The "Moving Materials" of Hiroshi Sambuichi's Architecture: Wind, Water, and Sun
James Lambiasi
Whereas most architects describe their building materials in terms of concrete, steel or glass, Hiroshi Sambuichi places first priority on the elements of nature. He refers to these elements, such as wind, water, and sun, as his "moving materials" -- a fitting title for the current exhibition of his works at TOTO Gallery MA: Hiroshi Sambuichi: Moving Materials. His office being based in Hiroshima, the show mainly focuses on works that have been completed in and around the nearby Seto Inland Sea. more...
Idolizing Beauty: Ancient to Now
Lucy Birmingham
Think "archeology museum in Tokyo" and it's easy to imagine badly lighted, crumbling displays in a decrepit space reeking of mildew. And yet there is a new and seemingly unknown archeological gem of a museum close to the heart of Shibuya that is redefining that image.
About ten minutes' walk from Shibuya Station, the Kokugakuin University Museum boasts a sleek space built in 2013, with state of the art displays and LED lighting that captures the beauty and mystery of its 10,000-piece collection of Japanese archeological finds and Shinto-related statues, scrolls, screens and altars. more...
Horse Latitudes: Yamaguchi Akira at the Equine Museum
Alan Gleason
The idea of holding a Yamaguchi Akira exhibition at a museum dedicated to horses is nothing short of brilliant. Credit the curators of Yokohama's Equine Museum for this inspired notion, as well as for their excellent execution of the show, which is up until May 29.
Yamaguchi is known for his liberal use of horse motifs, but in extremely curious contexts. Trained in the Edo-period (1603-1867) style of traditional Yamato-e painting, he knows how to draw flawless reproductions of 16th-century battle scenes, which prominently feature samurai on horseback. more...
