Three reasons why you should visit the Kawanabe Kyosai exhibition at the Suntory Museum of Art

Kyosai lived in a complicated time. The end of the Edo era and the modernisation efforts of the new Meiji government not only brought a sudden end to feudal institutions but also fueled the rapid introduction of Western customs. Kyosai expressed his complex feelings toward modernisation through sarcastic paintings, poking fun at the new Meiji initiatives’ incompatibility with traditional Japanese lifestyles. He was imprisoned for his flippant portrayals of the political elites.

Yet, what lies behind Kyosai’s sarcasm is not outright opposition to the Meiji government, but a longing for the traditional culture of Edo era. Visitors should not miss his playful depictions of everyday life in feudal Japan and more serious portraits of deities and nature, both rooted in his decades of training under the renowned Kano School of Japanese traditional painting that was patronised by the Edo shoguns.

Kyosai’s art was not only popular with the Japanese but also found an eager foreign audience. The most famous of his foreign followers was Josiah Conder, a British architect who became Kyosai’s pupil and later introduced Kyosai to the West. Conder was active in Japan from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century and during this period, he laid the foundation for Japanese architecture.

Keep your eyes peeled for the eclectic collection of Kyosai’s works from across the world, carefully preserved by and shipped in from major art facilities and collectors outside Japan, such as the British Museum and the Israel Goldman Collection in London.  The global cultural network established by Kyosai through his correspondence with the likes of Conder helped make his works well appreciated globally.

Since the exhibition paints a nostalgic look at old Japan, it’s perhaps fitting to complete your visit with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The museum’s tea room Genchoan exudes heritage charm as it was inherited from the museum’s founding in 1961. During the exhibition period, traditional tea ceremonies will be held here on selected days (check website for details) for 50 visitors per day. (There are no reservations; tickets go on sale at 10am at the third floor reception desk on the same day.)

The tea ceremony is a familiar event for the artistic community in the Edo era. Artists of this era cultivated their own artistic inspirations through the appreciation of fine green tea as well as the exquisite tea bowls and beautifully made snacks that accompanied the tea. You are encouraged to channel your own inner artist by participating in this important ritual of traditional Japan and find your moment of peace in the heart of modern Tokyo.

‘Kawanabe Kyosai: Nothing Escaped His Brush’ runs from Wednesday February 6 until Sunday March 31 at the Suntory Museum of Art.