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Past Special Exhibition

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over

2007.11.17 - 01.27

Two Lives in Palau
Literary Genius, Atsushi Nakajima and Japan's Gauguin, Hisakatsu Hijikata

Overview

Two Talented Individuals who met in the South Seas

Atsushi Nakajima and Hisakatsu Hijikata met in July 1941 on the island of Palau in Micronesia. This was the period when Japan was expanding its influence over the islands of the Pacific. Hijikata began making paintings and sculpture in Palau in 1929, and he also became involved in studying the folklore and language of the island. Nakajima retired from his position at Yokohama Girls Higher School and went to Palau as a Japanese language editor and secretary in the Palau South Seas Agency. Soon the two began working together and formed a close friendship. Nakajima's late works strongly reflect his experiences in Palau, and it is thought that they were influenced by his friendship with Hijikata. This exhibition presents Hijikata's paintings and wood relief sculptures along with Nakajima's literary work and related documentation. We hope that it will provide a unique view of the work of two men who explored the profound possibilities of art and the human spirit.

Information

Dates:
November 17, 2007(Saturday) - January 27, 2008(Sunday), Museum closed on Mondays, except days which fall on national holidays. The museum will be closed on the Tuesdays following those days. Also closed from December 29, 2007 until January 3, 2008
Hours:
10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. Visitors must enter 30 minutes before closing time.
Place:
Setagaya Art Museum, 1st floor exhibition rooms
Admission:
General 800(640), college and high school students / 65 and older 600(480), junior high ,elementary school students and handicapped 400(320)
Amount in parentheses applies to groups of 20 or more.
Organizer:
Setagaya Art Museum

Overview

Two Talented Individuals who met in the South Seas

Atsushi Nakajima and Hisakatsu Hijikata met in July 1941 on the island of Palau in Micronesia. This was the period when Japan was expanding its influence over the islands of the Pacific. Hijikata began making paintings and sculpture in Palau in 1929, and he also became involved in studying the folklore and language of the island. Nakajima retired from his position at Yokohama Girls Higher School and went to Palau as a Japanese language editor and secretary in the Palau South Seas Agency. Soon the two began working together and formed a close friendship. Nakajima's late works strongly reflect his experiences in Palau, and it is thought that they were influenced by his friendship with Hijikata. This exhibition presents Hijikata's paintings and wood relief sculptures along with Nakajima's literary work and related documentation. We hope that it will provide a unique view of the work of two men who explored the profound possibilities of art and the human spirit.