“Art in Life” has been the guiding theme for the Suntory Museum of Art’s exhibitions and collecting activities since we opened in 1961. This exhibition, the first after our reopening, returns to that fundamental theme to present a carefully chosen group of masterworks that have embellished daily life. Ranging from ancient to contemporary, this exhibition also highlights new aspects of our collection.

Left: Accessory box with fusenryō design in mother-of-pearl inlay and maki-e (National treasure), Kamakura period, 13th century, Suntory Museum of Art
Right: Distant View—To Space—, Fukami Sueharu, 1996, Suntory Museum of Art

This painting of a huge waterfall is a famous work by Maruyama Ōkyo, an Edo-period artist. Not only is its realism remarkable. It is fascinating to try to imagine where to hang this painting and what impact it would have on that space. This exhibition provides guidance for the newcomer to Japanese art, who may feel puzzled over what to appreciate and how. It explores one aspect of what makes Japanese art so fascinating, offering insights textbooks do not teach.

Green maple and waterfall, Maruyama Ōkyo, Edo period, 1787, Suntory Museum of Art

Connecting the old and the new. Revisiting art, without being hampered by conventional periodization. Medieval, early modern, modern: all are art. “Art revisited, beauty revealed,” the Suntory Museum of Art’s message, expresses our desire to link ancient art to modern art, eastern art to western art, across the boundaries of time and place and culture. This exhibition thus introduces narratives of art newly appreciated, including glass, ceramics, prints, and the arts of the Ryukyus.

Left: Vase with mayfly design, Emile Gallé, France, 1889-1900, Suntory Museum of Art (Kikuchi Collection)
Right: Hexagonal covered jar with bird-and-flower design in overglaze enamels, Arita, Edo period, 17th century, Suntory Museum of Art