ART | Ryuichi Sakamoto unveils original music for "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition."
LOUNGE / ART
January 17, 2015

ART | Ryuichi Sakamoto unveils original music for "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition."



ART | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Exhibition: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – A Journey Through 4,000 Years of Beauty: Earth, Sea, and Sky


Ryuichi Sakamoto Premieres Original Music for The Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition


The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and The Yomiuri Shimbun, with the full cooperation of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world's foremost collections, will present "The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – A Journey Through 4,000 Years of Beauty: Earth, Sea, and Sky" from Saturday, October 6, to Friday, January 4. In conjunction with this, Ryuichi Sakamoto has created the original music for the exhibition, titled "wind, cypresses & absinthe." A premiere performance was held on Tuesday, August 28, at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence.


Text by IWANAGA Morito




4,000 Years of Beauty Presented on an Immense Scale



This exhibition explores the theme of "how landscapes and flora and fauna have been depicted in Western art," using "nature"—the source of all things and a perpetual mystery to us—as its lens. Through paintings, crafts, sculptures, and photographs, it introduces the essence of art across 4,000 years, from ancient Mesopotamian civilization to the present day, offering an unprecedented emotional experience with its overwhelming scale and profound concept.


At the original music presentation by Ryuichi Sakamoto on Tuesday, August 28, he not only performed but also shared anecdotes related to the music. Here is a report on the event.






A special, first-ever initiative has been realized: purchase the official exhibition catalog at the venue, and receive a premium CD featuring this track. Immerse yourself in a sublime collaboration between world-class art and music.


Furthermore, in commemoration of this exhibition, collaborative merchandise with "more trees" has been released. The strap, crafted from thinned Tosa cypress wood and inspired by François Pompon's "Polar Bear," conveys a message to stop global warming by taking the endangered polar bear as its motif. A portion of the proceeds will support the activities of more trees.



ART | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Exhibition: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – A Journey Through 4,000 Years of Beauty: Earth, Sea, and Sky 02

Vincent van Gogh, "Cypresses," 1889. Rogers Fund, 1949 (49.30). Image ©The Metropolitan Museum of Art


The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – A Journey Through 4,000 Years of Beauty: Earth, Sea, and Sky

Dates: Saturday, October 6, 2012 – Friday, January 4, 2013

Closed: Mondays, October 9, December 31, January 1 (Open on October 8 and December 24)

Hours: 9:30 – 17:30; Fridays until 20:00, Saturdays until 18:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)

*Open until 21:00 on Friday, October 19, and Saturday, October 20

Admission: General ¥1,600, Students ¥1,300, High School Students ¥800,

Seniors (65+) ¥1,000, Elementary School Students and Younger Free

Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Ueno Park)

8-36 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)

Exhibition Official Website

http://met2012.jp

*Advance tickets with special benefits available until Friday, October 5

http://met2012.jp/#ticket