Tokyo Tidbits: @ Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Shinagawa

March 30, 2003

@ Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Shinagawa

There is a modern painting/calligraphy exhibition. The work is by Toko Shinoda - she's 90 years old and says she's still in her experimental stage. She paints with sumi ink on handmade paper. She learned traditional calligraphy as a child, but didn't like the stifling conventions and started creating her own style. My dad started crying when he entered the room.

Posted by Mie at March 30, 2003 12:40 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Why did your dad start crying? What kind of mood was there at the exhibition?
I saw some posters in the trains on Modern Dolls .. looked interesting.

Posted by: chriskk at March 31, 2003 01:10 AM

Wow ! 90-years old? The woman's work is extremely powerful. Impresive stuff.

Posted by: Gem Stevens at March 31, 2003 09:56 AM

Yeah, the paintings were powerful. Very simple but they demanded your attention. A bit too edgy for my taste, but blew my dad out of the water. I think it's because of the intense energy of this amazing woman was radiating from each work.

Posted by: Mie at March 31, 2003 12:58 PM

I got to meet Ms. Shinoda a couple of years ago -- she's absolutely wonderful. She radiates this kind of creative energy that makes you realize you're standing next to someone very special. (If I hadn't known better, I would have guessed her to be in her late fifties, or early sixties.)

Tuttle has published a book of her work by Mary and Norman Tolman, which you can pick up at the Tolman Collection, which is a gallery in Daimon, near Zojoji. (They had a gallery in Omotesando, but I don't think that location is still open.)
The Daimon gallery is a great place to go on a Saturday, but it's a little hard to find. It's in a little traditional house down a small street.
They have a room of Toko Shinoda prints there. (I think they are the only ones representing her.)
Jim

Posted by: Jim at April 1, 2003 08:29 AM

Jim,

The Daimon gallery sounds wonderful. I love old houses. Next time I see you, I'll have to get directions to it. I can only imagine what an amazing woman Shinoda-san is. I think the secret to staying young is allowing creativity to flow and to enjoy yourself. She's got it, ne.

Posted by: Jim at April 3, 2003 03:08 PM