The Tokyo National Museum Hyokeikan is currently hosting the "Cartier and Japan: Half a Century of Progress 'Musubi' - Dialogue on Beauty and Art" exhibition, which introduces the various stories connecting Cartier and Japan, until Sunday, July 7th.

This exhibition, which commemorates 50 years since Cartier opened its first boutique in Japan, is set in the symmetrical Hyokeikan building and explores the two bonds between Cartier and Japan, and between the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art and Japanese artists.

On the right wing of the Hyokeikan, the exhibition will look back on Cartier exhibitions that have been held in Japan since 1988 and explore how Japan has influenced Cartier's work from the time of founder Louis Cartier to the present day, while also introducing the history of the Maison through the "Cartier Collection," which is made up of valuable archive pieces.

The museum also exhibits works by architects, designers, and contemporary artists, including Leandro Erlich, Rinko Kawauchi, Keiichi Tahara, Katsuhiko Hibino, and Takashi Homma, expressing the Maison's savoir-faire, its values, and its constant dialogue with Japanese creativity.

The left wing of the Hyokeikan Museum focuses on the activities of the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, which was one of the first to introduce many Japanese artists to Europe. From holding exhibitions and publishing publications, to commissioning works for the Fondation Cartier and building its collection, visitors can get a glimpse of the unique methods by which the foundation has linked various fields of creation.

In addition, works by Japan's leading artists will be on display, ranging from paintings by Erina Matsui, Takashi Murakami, and Tadanori Yokoo, to photographs by Nobuyoshi Araki, Rinko Kawauchi, and Daido Moriyama, installations by Tabaimo and Tatsuo Miyajima, and even masters such as Takeshi Kitano, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Yukio Nakagawa, and Issey Miyake. Through these numerous works, the creative dialogue between the Fondation Cartier and Japanese artists will be demonstrated.

Inside the venue,In the exhibition room on the right, there are alcove spaces and niches and tables inspired by Sukiya architecture.In addition to usingThe stage set for the artist's work on display on the left is made of Japanese industrial footwear.The spatial composition, which further enhances the traditional architecture of the Hyokeikan, is also not to be missed, as it incorporates a venue system.

In the center of the building, an installation called "Fifty Skyscapes of Japan" created by Sho Shibuya at the request of Cartier as a symbol of the history of Cartier, which is constantly evolving and renewing, is exhibited. This is a series of 50 paintings of the sky that Shibuya painted while traveling around Japan, and represents the theme of this exhibition, which shows the continuity of the connection between the past, present, and future.

This exhibition highlights the dialogue between Cartier and Japanese culture, and looks back at the bond that the two have nurtured over the years. Why not try to understand this deep connection through a wide variety of artworks?

Cartier and Japan: A Half-Century Journey - "MUSUBI" Exhibition - A Dialogue on Beauty and Art
[Dates] Currently being held - July 2024, 7
[Venue] Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum (13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
[Opening hours] 9:30-17:00 (Fridays and Saturdays - 19:00) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing
[Closed] Mondays (open on July 7th), July 15th
[Price] Adults 1500 yen, university students 1200 yen, high school students and younger free