This “Art Colors” features Japanese women. Entitled “Stylish Women”, the exhibition focuses on hand-painted “ukiyo-e” from the Edo era and images of women drawn by modern artists. “Stylish” is a term that was used in the Edo era, and means “as elegant as you want to be”, or “extremely elegant”. The fashion leaders of that time were geishas and courtesans. The courtesans of Yoshiwara dressed themselves in gorgeous clothes, paying attention to every detail like the pattern on their kimono, make-up and hair ornaments. They were an object of adoration to the people of Edo, who loved new things.
Present-day artist Kiyoko Abe, herself a mother and a woman, paints women while dealing with the struggles of daily life, and expresses the heart of modern people as her motif. Also on exhibit will be maiko (apprentice geisha) painted by Masayoshi Nakamura, an artist from the Showa era. Please enjoy the caricatures of city women through the ages who were not only gorgeous, but also dignified, and this lively winter time at the Park Hotel Atrium.
Period: December 9 (Mon.), 2013 – February 23 (sun.), 2014
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: 25F
Admission: Free
[Cooperated by] Hagurodo, Shinobazu Gallery
[Produced by] creative unit moon
[Video Produced by] antymark
Kiyoko Abe | Masayoshi Nakamura | Hokuba Teisai | Shuneijo Katsukawa
Artist born 1970, in Tokyo. Draws portraits with “sumi” (Japanese ink), on the lines of modern people.
Her personal reticence is directly reflected in works that manifest a mixture of strength and fragility,
and her pictures of women with great insight despite their instability have received very high acclaim.
Born in Toyohashi-shi, Aichi Prefecture, in 1924.Studied under Gakuryo Nakamura.
After he was first selected in the Nitten contest, he won one prize after another, and rapidly ascended in the art world.
When he was only 36, he became a Nitten judge, but revolted against the authority of its “vertical” society,
so he left Nitten, and then formed the “Hitobitokai” where everybody was equal.He exhibited his works at private exhibitions.
He was in charge of art at Shintaro Ishihara’s “Ichinotani Monogatari” (Nissay Theater),
and produced the “Genji-Heike Kaisen E-Maki” (naval battle scroll) for the movie “Kai Dan” (Director, Masaki Kobayashi) (which is now kept at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Arts).
He also researched the woodcut artist Sharaku, promoted auctions of artworks, studied the blending of paints, assisted mass-production of frames for paintings, and founded the Tokyo Exhibition.
In this way, he revolutionized Japanese art circles, and brought innovations to the world of art.
Died, 1977, at 52 years old.
Artist of the mid-Edo period. 1771-1844 (approx. date of birth and death).
Disciple of ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai who is typical of Edo. Among the others, he is one of the best.
He produced many printed books and printed works, such as illustrations for comic tanka picture books and reading books.
From around Bunsei (ca. 1817), he devoted himself to original drawings, and established a unique style that extended beyond that of Hokusai.
Artist of the late Edo period. The details are unknown.
The paintings are signed and sealed “Shuneijyo”, who appears to have been a disciple or daughter of Katsukawa Shunei.