Pi and Perspective: Tsuyoshi Hisakado's Practice of Spiral
Jennifer Pastore
Tsuyoshi Hisakado is a talented engineer of ambiance, but this is not the main purpose of his work. More than what lies on the surface, he interests himself in what's at the heart of things -- the hidden laws and spontaneous occurrences that shape the universe. For instance, Practice of Spiral, his first major solo show in Japan, is preoccupied with Pi, the symbol of constancy and irrationality that orders the cosmos. Now on view at the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in Aichi Prefecture, the exhibition recently reopened after a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus outbreak. more...
In Appreciation of Mindfulness: Revisiting Tanizaki's Essay on Japanese Aesthetics
J.M. Hammond
Doors may be closed at museums across Japan, and around the world, but as art lovers spend more time indoors, this may also offer an opportunity for people to finally get to some of those art-related titles on their books-to-read list. An essential read is Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows (In'ei Raisan), originally published in 1933-4. And for those already familiar with the essay, this may be a good time, nearly a century after its first appearance, to reconsider what it has to offer. more...
Virtual Art Redux: More Online Exhibitions from Japan
Alan Gleason
Japan's government-decreed state of emergency was lifted on 25 May and, as of this posting, museums nationwide are free to reopen. However, precautions are still being taken against the coronavirus, with most facilities requiring some form of distancing as well as the use of masks and hand sanitizer. Some are admitting visitors by reservation only, or requesting that people from outside their city or prefecture stay away. Exhibitions that were delayed or suspended during the months of April and May are generally being extended by a few weeks, though the timing varies from venue to venue. more...
