Artist unknown, chojyu-giga(Japanese National Treasure), 12century, owned by gozanji, The Scenery of gozanji.

Choju-Jinbutsu-Giga Emaki

In November issue of the Bijutsu Techo, a special feature is provided for 'Choju-Jinbutsu-Giga Emaki', one of the Japanese national treasures. 'Choju-Jinbutsu-Giga' is chinese character. it means birds, animals and human? character painting. Widely known for its personification of rabbit and frog, the sketch was drawn during the 12th and 13th century. Despite its reputation, some parts of the drawing remains unexplained. The drawing is scheduled to be on display at the Suntory Museum of Art (www.suntory.co.jp/sma) in Tokyo from November 3rd through December 16th. This emaki is highly acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japanese drawing history, and given much attention as a nemesis of animation and character culture of Japan. The story is unfolded by animal characters, with touch of humorous entertainment, and the ink strokes reveal its links to the contemporary art.
In this feature article, an animator Kotobuki Shiriagari who is also well acquainted in the realm of art, and an art critic Yuji Yamashita share opinions on the 'Choju-Jinbutsu-Giga Emaki'. A humorous analysis of the drawing is drawn from the talk, along with new interpretation of Japanese art from the contemporary perspective. Meanwhile, artists like Atushiko Misawa and Tabaimo choose a specific scene from the emaki drawing to deliver their ideas.
Staffs visited Kohzanji temple in Kyoto that enshrines the drawing, and present readers with its history. The drawing is also examined by an animation director Isao Takahata, who points out that the viewpoint of animation could be found in a drawing as early as the ancient Japanese era.
In the second special feature, works of Sengai are explored who drew zenga to diffuse teaching of zen during Edo period. Sengai was a monk of zen buddhism, and although he was not an artist by profession, viewers find his works humorous and charming even today. An animator Yoriko Hoshi introduces the life and works of Sengai with illustration. The exhibition of Sengai? drawings is held in the Idemitsu Museum of Art (www.idemitsu.co.jp/museum) in Tokyo.
In November issue, Erimi Fujiwara, an art journalist, interviewed photographer Risaku Suzuki. He is a well known photographer of international fame, and Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography hosted an exhibition of his pictures that portray snow covered landscapes, waterfall, and so forth.
In the article 'Art tour in Hokkaido', a garden is visited where the sculptures and landscape art are blended into nature. Arte Piazza Biba that holds sculptures of Kan Yasuda has a unusually large scale, providing us with a refreshing ambience, different from that of a city.
For news abroad, Biennale in Istanbul and Athens, Chinese art fair "Sh Contemporary" and other exhibitions noted in New York, Los Angeles, and Paris will be covered.

Left: Junya Ishigami, balloon, 2007, mixed media, 1400×730×1280cm, Courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi

Autumn Exibitions in Tokyo

And, in this autumn, a number of attractive exhibitions are expected including "Space For Your Future" at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyoplanned by Yuko Hasegawa, and "Ropponngi Crossinng" at Mori Art Museum. Especially "Space for your future" is curated by chief curator Yuko Hasegawa. 34 Artists from 13 nations were participated. Junya Ishigami presented an artwork that is an aluminum structure that is as high as a four-story building and floating in the air with the injection of helium gas. Architect Unite Sanaa, meanwhile, presented a half size of the architecture work titled Flower House, which is designed to coexist with the Nature as it is formed with curved lines. Daikin Air Design, by the Daikin Industries that produce air conditioners and others, presented an installation work that used the cutting-edge technology to fill a small room with the air of the ancient times and the air that puts people in the mood for love. Spectators can actually go into the room to have a direct experience. As well as those, Michael Lin, Ernesto Neto, assume vivid astro focus(avaf), Hussein Chalayan, Carsten Nicolai, Noriyuki Tanaka, Olafur Eliasson, Mika Ninagawaet, etc. architectors, fashion designers will participate.
In this exibition they aim to give a spatial execution to a variety of concepts and projects that propose future spaces able to stimulate and transform the sensibilities, sensory perceptions, and intellectual curiosity of those within them. The idea of space implied in the exhibition's title does not simply mean physical space but rather space as an environment which envelops the individual space as a being possessing both physical and spiritual sensibilities. These exhibitions that introduce contemporary art works of Japan will be fully covered in December issue of the Bijutsu Techo.

Editor-in-Chief_Junji Oshigane

ABOUT Bijutsu Techo
Bijutsu Techo is a monthly visual art magazine since published its first issue at 1938, it published 901th issue till now. the Bijutsu Techo has been a part of Japanese art, especially for the post-war contemporary era. The magazine has conducted interviews with both domestic and international artists, provided basic instructions on the contemporary art, printed reports that covered specific circumstances of distinctive eras, and published art critics and reviews written by prominent Japanese critics.
The magazine covers areas of architecture, design, photography, and fashion in addition to pure art. During the last few years, the magazine issued special articles on internationally renowned artists, also reported on the international exhibitions like Venice Biennale and Kassel Documenta. It illuminates Japanese art scenes, and also features special articles on themes such as art education and Asian art.
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