A painter who passed away in obscurity, having remained unknown his whole life, and whose name later spread through the media that took him up.
Described as “the Jakuchu of the Showa era” or “the van Gogh of Japan,” Isson was truly a solitary painter who led an astonishing life.
The Okada Museum of Art has a rather steep admission fee of 2800 yen. I hesitated a little, but hearing that there would also be a lecture by Director Tadashi Kobayashi, I took the plunge and paid a visit.
Cameras and smartphones are both prohibited. The entrance gate is fitted with a metal detector — a museum with security so tight it borders on the nervous. Since photography is not allowed, the images this time are again only of the museum’s exterior.
There are five works by Isson Tanaka on display in total (additional works are scheduled to be shown in the latter half of the run). It turned out to be an exhibition modest in volume, but works by Jakuchu, as well as by his Tokyo University of the Arts contemporaries Kaii Higashiyama and Wu Changshuo, were also lined up, making it an exhibition built on a plan that digs deeper into Isson Tanaka’s surroundings as well.
Gallery Talk by Director Tadashi Kobayashi
Director Tadashi Kobayashi’s talk grew so heated that it ran over its scheduled 90 minutes, and — including his account of reporting from Amami Oshima, where Isson moved in his later years — it became a precious lecture full of laughter and behind-the-scenes stories.
He shared many stories about Isson Tanaka gathered during his stay in Amami, and Isson’s life was so harrowing that his works and message reached the very depths of my heart.
Though he ended his life without ever being recognized as an artist, an article by a reporter from the Minaminippon Shimbun led to an NHK program, and he rapidly won acclaim. I found myself thinking that someday I would like to visit the museum in Amami Oshima.
Foot Bath
After leisurely viewing the other exhibits as well, I soaked slowly in the foot bath.
To relieve the fatigue of having toured such a large museum, I lost track of time and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
https://burart.jp/ashiyucafe-okadamuseum/
Compared with the museum’s opulence, the museum shop is somehow built on the cheap…
Isson Tanaka
您听说过一位名叫 Isson Tanaka 的画家吗？
他一生默默无闻地离世，之后经由报道他的媒体才逐渐为人所知。
被形容为”昭和的 Jakuchu””日本的 van Gogh”的一村，是一位度过了惊心动魄人生、真正孤高的画家。
Okada Museum of Art 的入场费高达2800日元，相当昂贵。我略有犹豫，但听说还有 Tadashi Kobayashi 馆长的讲座，便下定决心前往一探。
展出的 Isson Tanaka 作品共计5件（会期后半计划追加展出作品）。虽然成了一场分量偏少的展览，但同时也陈列了 Jakuchu 的作品，以及他在 Tokyo University of the Arts 的同窗 Kaii Higashiyama 和 Wu Changshuo 的作品，是一场通过深入挖掘 Isson Tanaka 周边而构成的展览。
“쇼와의 Jakuchu”, “일본의 van Gogh” 등으로 일컬어지는 잇손은 처절한 삶을 살아온, 그야말로 고고한 화가입니다.
Okada Museum of Art는 입장료가 2800엔으로 꽤 비쌉니다. 다소 망설였지만, Tadashi Kobayashi 관장의 강연도 있다고 들어 큰맘 먹고 방문해 보았습니다.
카메라도 스마트폰도 반입 금지. 입장 게이트에는 금속 탐지기가 설치되어 있어, 신경질적이라고 할까 삼엄한 경비 태세를 갖춘 미술관입니다. 사진 촬영이 불가능하므로, 이번 이미지도 관 외부 사진만 게재합니다.
전시된 Isson Tanaka의 작품은 총 5점(회기 후반에는 추가 작품이 전시될 예정). 분량이 적은 전람회가 되었지만, Jakuchu의 작품과 Tokyo University of the Arts 동기인 Kaii Higashiyama, Wu Changshuo의 작품도 나란히 전시되어, Isson Tanaka의 주변까지 파고드는 기획으로 이루어진 전람회였습니다.
Tadashi Kobayashi 관장 갤러리 토크
Tadashi Kobayashi 관장의 이야기는 예정된 90분을 넘길 정도로 열기를 띠었고, 말년에 이주한 Amami Oshima 취재기까지 포함해 웃음과 비화가 가득한 귀중한 강연이 되었습니다.
Amami 체류를 통해 취재한 Isson Tanaka의 이야기를 많이 들려주셨는데, 잇손의 생애는 소름 끼칠 만큼 처절하여 그의 작품과 메시지가 마음속 깊은 곳까지 와닿았습니다.
미술 작가로서는 평생 평가받지 못한 채 생을 마쳤지만, Minaminippon Shimbun 기자가 기사화한 것을 계기로 NHK 프로그램으로 이어지며 단숨에 평가를 얻어 갑니다. 언젠가 Amami Oshima의 미술관에 가 보고 싶다고 생각했습니다..
족욕
느긋하게 다른 전시도 본 뒤에는, 족욕탕에 천천히 몸을 담갔습니다.
넓은 미술관을 다 둘러본 피로를 풀기 위해, 시간 가는 줄 모르고 만끽했습니다.
