Kyoto Features Contemporary Japanese Art

Mitsuhashi Taku, born in Kyoto in 1987, is known for his work in *Nihonga*, a style of Japanese painting that incorporates traditional techniques and materials. He earned his MFA in Japanese Painting from Kyoto City University of Arts in 2013 and currently lectures at the same institution. Mitsuhashi's art explores the layered expressions of foreground, middle ground, and background in landscapes, reconfiguring traditional *Nihonga* spatial techniques. He examines historical works and incorporates his own interpretations, emphasizing sketching and observing nature to "measure the distance between oneself and objects". The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, originally established in 1933 as the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art, is Japan's oldest public art museum. It was renamed after World War II and again in 2020 when Kyocera acquired naming rights. The museum underwent a significant renovation in 2020, blending its original architecture with contemporary design elements. The museum's renovation included the addition of the Higashiyama Cube, a space dedicated to showcasing contemporary art. The museum's collection includes approximately 4,200 works from the Meiji era to the present, encompassing various styles, such as Japanese and Western paintings, sculptures, and crafts. The Triangle, located in the basement of the museum, specifically supports emerging Kyoto artists.