Press Release 2022/05/09

Grasping at Clouds
Works from the Hara Museum and the Hara Rokuro Collections
Part I: March 19 (Saturday) – September 4 (Sunday), 2022
Part II: September 10 (Saturday), 2022 – January 9 (Monday/national holiday), 2023
Beginning this spring, Hara Museum ARC will present the exhibition Grasping at Clouds: Works from the Hara
Museum and the Hara Rokuro Collections. As with the previous year's exhibition, A Nexus of Rainbows, thetitle of this exhibition refers to a certain process that goes through the mind during the creation andenjoyment of art with a term inspired by the museum's rich natural environment. The works selected in turnfrom the Hara Museum Collection (contemporary art) and the Hara Rokuro Collection (traditional East Asianart) will be presented in two parts: Part I for spring and summer and Part II for autumn and winter.

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In Japanese, the word “cloud” appears in the term "grasping at clouds,” which is used to describe somethingthat is vague, elusive or unrealistic and is therefore somewhat negative in connotation. However, the idea ofclouds becomes positive when we recall how looking at soft clouds floating in the sky often triggers a streamof images and thoughts in our minds, much like the “clouds” that inspire the mind of the artist or the viewerof art, clouds that might be something that has never been seen or done before or something concrete thatis extracted from uncertain or chaotic situations.
Most of the works exhibited in Contemporary Art Gallery A, B, and C are examples of this larger sense ofclouds. They include works created by artists who have developed their own theory or method to give shapeto essential aspects of themselves, art, or society. There are also works that express a concept rather than anactual reality. These include abstract paintings and sculptures devoid of concrete images and photographic
works that consist of a series of confounding images with several possible interpretations. On the other hand,in the special exhibition space Kankai Pavilion, visitors can see clouds as depicted in early modern Japanesepaintings. These include clouds that act as compositional devices to signal a change in scene or represent theflow of time, as well as clouds depicted in Buddhist paintings. Also on view throughout the year will beMaruyama Okyo's sketch for his monumental painting Landscape of Yodogawa River, with periodical changes
in the section shown. As a record of Okyo's experience of the river and his artistic intentions, this sketch canserve as a guide towards gaining a deeper understanding of the finished painting.

■Featured Artists (slated)
Part I Spring-Summer
Contemporary Art: Helena Almeida, Bernd & Hilla Becher, Agostino Bonalumi, Enrico Castellani, Yukio
Fujimoto, Shoichi Ida, Yves Klein, Richard Long, Aiko Miyawaki, Isamu Noguchi, Hitoshi Nomura, Jules Olitski,Nam June Paik, Marta Pan, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, Edward Rusche, Kaz Sasaguchi, Tokihiro Sato, PierreSoulages, Yoshihiro Suda, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Toeko Tatsuno, Hitomi Uchikura, Takeo Yamaguchi, KatsuroYoshida
Traditional East Asian Art: Landscape based on an old Chinese anecdote “Assembly at the Orchid Pavilion”,
attributed to Kano school; Landscape of Yodo River (sketch), Maruyama Okyo; Scene of mournful assembly at
the death of Buddha; and others.
Part II Autumn-WinterContemporary Art: Jonathan Borofsky, Koji Enokura, Kosai Hori, Izumi Kato, Kae Masuda, Tracey Moffatt,
Jacques Monory, Hiroharu Mori, Kazumi Nakamura, Nobuhira Narumi, Satoshi Ohno, Kazuo Shiraga, LeeUfan, Tadanori Yokoo, Katsuro Yoshida and others.
Traditional East Asian Art: Landscape of Yodo River (sketch), Maruyama Okyo; Scene based on an anecdote byTao Yuan Ming (poet of the Jin dynasty), attributed to the Kano school; and others.
Parts I and II
Anish Kapoor, Void; Yayoi Kusama, Mirror Room (Pumpkin); Tatsuo Miyajima, Time Link; Yasumasa Morimura,Rondo (Twins); Yoshitomo Nara, My Drawing Room; Tabaimo, Midnight Sea; and others■Images for Publication
Part I Spring-Summer

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Part II Autumn-Winter

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Traditional East Asian Art (Part I)

Traditional East Asian Art (Part II)

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Parts I and II

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[1] Exterior view of Hara Museum ARC Photo by Shinya Kigure[2] Toeko Tatsuno, Untitled 97-4, 1997 oil on canvas 218 x 191 cm[3] Jean-Pierre Raynaud, Eprouvette II, 1978 tile on painted wood, glass tubes 53.0 x 37.3 x 16.7 cm
🄫ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2022 G2760[4] Yasumasa Morimura, Face Study III, 1994 black and white photograph 25 x 20 cm
🄫Yasumasa Morimura[5] Takeo Yamaguchi, Form, 1952 oil on wood board 186 x 186 cm[6] Koji Enokura, Intervention (Story - No.16), 1991 cotton cloth, acrylic paint and wood 248 x 333.3 cm[7] Tadanori Yokoo, DNF: Anya Kouro September 11, 2001, 2001 oil, gesso and collage on canvas 227.5 x
182.0 cm 🄫Tadanori Yokoo[8] Izumi Kato, Untitled, 2008 wood, stone, oil, acrylic paint 168 x 42 x 42 cm 🄫Izumi Kato
[9] Kazuo Shiraga, Untitled, 1964 oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm[10] Scene of mournful assembly at the death of Buddha, Momoyama period color on paper hanging
scroll 163.0 x 108.9 ㎝[11] Scene based on an old Chinese anecdote "Assembly at the Orchid Pavilion", part of paintings used forwallpaper and sliding doors at Nikko-in guest hall in Mi’idera temple, Kano school, Momoyama-Edoperiod four hanging scrolls 169 x 128.6 cm each[12] Tier of boxes decorated with design of squirrels in vine scrolls, Edo-Meiji period Maki-e on lacquer
27.7 x 18.5 x 30.5 cm[13] Yoshitomo Nara, My Drawing Room, 2004/2021 312 × 200.5 × 448 cm 🄫Yoshitomo Nara Photo byShinya Kigure[14] Yasuhiro Suzuki, Bench of the Japanese Archipelag, 2014/2021 mixed media 🄫Yasuhiro Suzuki
Photo by Shinya Kigure[15] Yayoi Kusama, Mirror Room (Pumpkin), 1991/1992 mixed media 200 x 200 x 200 cm 🄫Yayoi
Kusama Photo by Shinya Kigure※ Regarding Plate 15, Mirror Room (Pumpkin) by Yayoi Kusama, permission to print is required not only fromHara Museum ARC, but also from the respective copyright-holder. Please contact us for details.

■About Hara Museum ARC
Hara Museum ARC opened in Shibukawa, Gunma in 1988 as anannex to the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Shinagawa,Tokyo, which opened in 1979. When the Hara Museum closed inJanuary 2021, Hara Museum ARC was re-launched as the solevenue integrating the functions and activities of both museums
and offering viewers with the opportunity to experience art
surrounded by verdant nature against a backdrop of expansive
blue skies.
The Hara Museum Collection includes a wide selection ofJean-Michel Othoniel, Kokoro, 2009
contemporary art by Japanese and overseas artists dating from
Photo by Yuichi Shiraku
the 1950s onward. The collection began around the time the Hara
Museum of Contemporary Art opened and was amassed by Toshio
Hara, chairman of the Foundation Arc-en-Ciel under which themuseum operates. It encompasses a diverse range of expression,from paintings and sculptures by masters who spearheaded themajor art movements of the 20th century such as Abstract
Expressionism and Pop Art, to works in the areas of photography
and video by artists active in the art scene of the 21st century.
The museum also houses the Hara Rokuro Collection, a collection
Photo by Sadamu Saitoof early modern Japanese paintings, crafts, and Chinese art
acquired by Rokuro Hara (1842-1933), the great-grandfather ofToshio Hara, who contributed to the industrialization of Japan
during the Meiji Era. Notable holdings include a National
Treasure-designated celadon vase representing the epitome ofChinese porcelain; an Important Cultural Property-designatedmasterpiece of the bijin-ga (beautiful women) genre showing awoman passing through a reed portiere, considered a precursor
to the ukiyoe paintings of beautiful women; the masterfulLandscape of Yodo River by Maruyama Okyo; and partition
Photo by Shinya Kigure
paintings that originally adorned the Nikko-in Guest Hall atMi′idera temple by Kano Eitoku and other artists of the Kanoschool.
The buildings that comprise Hara Museum ARC were designed by
Arata Isozaki, winner of the 2019 Pritzer Prize, considered theNobel Prize in the field of architecture. Gallery A, with its
impressive pyramid-shaped roof that echoes the peaks of Mount
Haruna, and Galleries B and C, which face the front garden like
extended wings, comprise exquisite spaces in which
contemporary artworks can shine. On the other hand, the Kankai
Pavilion, whose design was inspired by the traditional shoinzukuri (drawing room) style of the Nikko-in Guest Hall at Mi’idera (Onjoji) temple in Shiga prefecture, is aquiet Japanese-style space where the skill of master craftsmen is apparent in every feature of the interior.
Within the expansive grounds of the museum, visitors can enjoy a stroll while enjoying various outdoor art
installations by Japanese and overseas artists such as Andy Warhol and Olafur Eliasson.
In the Open-view Storage, a part of the Hara Museum Collection is on display for viewing mainly by curators,critics, educators and researchers. The facility may also be viewed by the general public through guided
tours. In either case, a reservation is necessary. Please note that reservations for English-language tours of
the Open-view Storage are also accepted, subject to staff availability. Please inquiry at least five days prior toyour visit.

With its high ceiling and large windows, the Cafe d'Art
provides a restful setting where visitors can enjoy a wideselection of sandwiches, pasta and other dishes made withfresh, local produce and ingredients, as well as special
treats such as homemade ice cream from the neighboring
Ikaho Green Bokujo. On weekends, visitors can partake ofthe cafe's signature Image Cake which features a varying
motif inspired by the current exhibition.
The Museum Shop offers a full selection of products thatbring the enjoyment of contemporary art into daily life,
from exhibition catalogues and related publications to original museum and designer goods and accessories.
Modern goods made with traditional Japanese craftsmanship and items created by Gunma-based artists arealso periodically introduced. Whether it’s a souvenir, gift or travel-related item, the shop may have exactly
what you are looking for.
Hara Museum ARC visitors can easily access a number ofnearby tourist sites. These include Ikaho Green Bokujo, arecreational ranch adjacent to the museum where visitors
can mingle with animals; the famous Ikaho Country Club
gold course; Ikaho Onsen, one of the oldest hot spring
resorts in Japan; and Mizusawa Temple, home of thefamous Mizusawa Kannon. Why not come to the ARC andenjoy a day filled with lush greenery, fresh air and art?

■Information
Title: Grasping at Clouds: Works from the Hara Museum and the Hara Rokuro Collections
Dates: Part I: March 19 (Saturday) – September 4 (Sunday), 2022
Part II: September 10 (Saturday), 2022 – January 9 (Monday/national holiday), 2023
*One change of exhibitions will take place at the Kankai Pavilion during Part I and Part II of the exhibition.
*The exhibition period is subject to change, depending on the situation with the novel coronavirus. Pleasecheck the museum website for the latest information.
Venue/Organized by: Hara Museum ARC
2855-1 Kanai, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma 377-0027
Tel: 0279-24-6585 E-mail: arc@haramuseum.or.jp official website: https://www.haramuseum.or.jp
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm)
Closed: Thursdays (except on holidays, during the month of August and December 29), between exhibitions,January 1 and during the winter break.
Admission: General 1,100 yen, Students 700 yen (high school and university) or 500 yen (elementary andjunior high)-Free for Hara Museum members / For residents of Gunma Prefecture: Free admission for elementary andjunior high school children every Saturday during the school term
-Special discount for visitors with the Guchoki Passport-Please inquire about group visits.
-Combination ticket for Hara Museum ARC and Ikaho Green Bokujo: General 1,800 yen; Students 1,500 yen(high school and university) or 1,400 yen (junior high), 800 yen (elementary), half price for those over 70(Please note that the combination ticket is unavailable on May 3, 4 and 5.)* Museum admission is also required for persons wishing to access the cafe or museum shop only.

Directions from Tokyo: By train: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki, change to the Joetsu Line, anddisembark at Shibukawa. From Shibukawa, ARC is 10 minutes away by taxi or 15 minutes by bus (take theIkaho Onsen bus to ″Green Bokujo Mae″). By car: 8 kilometers (about 15 minutes) from the Kan-etsu
Expressway Shibukawa Ikaho Interchange (in the direction of Ikaho Onsen).
●Selected Japan Rail (JR) Train Schedules*Current as of February 2022. Please check the relevant time tables for the most recent information.
Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen (Weekdays, Weekends and Holidays)
Depart Tokyo Station on Hakutaka No. 553 at 7:52 → Arrive at Takasaki Station at 8:42 → Depart on theAgatsuma Line bound for Omae at 8:53 → Arrive at Shibukawa Station at 9:19 → Take the Kanetsu Kotsu
bus bound for Ikaho Onsen at 9:25 → Arrive at Green Bokujo at 9:40.
Depart Tokyo Station on Toki No. 317 at 10:40 → Arrive at Takasaki Station at 11:33/Depart 11:44) →Depart at Shibukawa Station at 12:08 → Depart on the Agatsuma Line bound for Naganohara
Kusatsuguchi at 11:44→ Arrive at Shibukawa Station at 9:19 → Take the Kanetsu Kotsu bus for Ikaho
Onsen at 12:14 → Arrive at Ikaho Green Bokujo at 12:29.
Limited Express "Kusatsu" (Kusatsu No. 31 runs only on weekends and holidays)
Depart from Ueno Stationon Kusatsu No. 31 at 9:00→ Arrive at Shibukawa Station at 10:38 → Take theKanetsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen at 10:55 → Arrive at Green Bokujo at 11:10.
Depart from Ueno Station on Kusatsu No.1 at 10:00 → Arrive at Shibukawa Station at 11:36 →Take theKanetsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen at 11:42 → Arrive at Green Bokujo at 11:53.
Depart from Ueno Station on Kusatsu No. 3 at 12:12→ Arrive at Shibukawa Station at 13:50 → Take theKanetsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen at 13:55→ Arrive at Green Bokujo at 14:06.
●Highway Bus/JR Bus “Joshu Yumeguri-go”
Shinjukku Station ⇔ Shibukawa Station, Ikaho, Kusatsu Onsen
For uo-to-date departure times, please go to JR Bus Kanto’s website at
http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/e6_1/pdf/e6_1.pdf (in Japanese)■Press Enquiries
E-mail:press@haramuseum.or.jp