ART | "Magritte Exhibition" Held at The National Art Center, Tokyo

ART | A Major Retrospective, First in 13 Years in Tokyo

The Magritte Exhibition Held at The National Art Center, Tokyo

The Magritte Exhibition, a major retrospective of René Magritte (1898-1967), a master of 20th-century art, is being held at The National Art Center, Tokyo, from March 25 (Wed) to June 29 (Mon).

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Works from Early to Late Periods Gathered from Over 10 Countries Worldwide

Magritte, born in Belgium, is known as a representative Surrealist painter alongside Dalí. His works carve out a unique world that transcends the "frameworks" that define our thoughts and actions—such as words, images, time, and gravity—and have greatly influenced subsequent art and design.

This major retrospective, the first in 13 years since 2002, is now realized in Tokyo. With full cooperation from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Magritte Foundation, approximately 130 representative works have been gathered from museums and private collections in Japan and over 10 countries worldwide, offering a comprehensive view of Magritte's oeuvre.

The exhibition covers works from his early period, when he also worked as a commercial designer to make a living, to his late period, depicting a world of paradox and absurdity. Masterpieces such as "The Lovers" (1928), where lovers kiss with their faces covered by white cloth, and "Golconda" (1953), featuring a bowler-hatted gentleman floating in the air—a symbol of Magritte's work—are displayed in abundance.

The Treachery of Images, 1965, 81.3 x 65.1 cm, Oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1985.64.24
© Charly Herscovici / ADAGP, Paris, 2015

Furthermore, the exhibition incorporates the latest research findings from the "Magritte Museum," established in 2009 through a partnership between the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Magritte Foundation, allowing visitors to trace Magritte's thought processes and creative journey.

Magritte brought the mystery hidden in ordinary daily life to the canvas. A world beyond reality now unfolds at The National Art Center, Tokyo.

The Birds in the Sky, 1966, Oil on canvas, 68.5 x 48 cm, Collection of Hilary & Wilbur Ross © Charly Herscovici / ADAGP, Paris, 2015 © Photothèque R. Magritte / BI, ADAGP, Paris / DNPartcom, 2015

The Magritte Exhibition
Dates | March 25 (Wed) – June 29 (Mon) *Closed Tuesdays, except for May 5 and 26.
Hours | 10:00–18:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing) *Fridays and May 23 (Sat), 24 (Sun), 30 (Sat), 31 (Sun) until 20:00. April 25 until 22:00.
Tickets | General ¥1600, University Students ¥1200, High School Students ¥800
Venue | The National Art Center, Tokyo, Special Exhibition Gallery 2E
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)
http://magritte2015.jp/

*The Kyoto exhibition will be held at The Kyoto City Museum of Art from July 11 (Sat) to October 12 (Mon, holiday).