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Family Gallery： Monkeys in Art

  • Image of "Monkeys (detail), By Mori Sosen, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, Edo period, 19th century, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, gift of Nagai Iwao"

    Monkeys (detail), By Mori Sosen, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, Edo period, 19th century, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, gift of Nagai Iwao

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room
    April 17, 2018 (Tue) - May 20, 2018 (Sun)

    This exhibit looks at how people represented monkeys in art. It focuses on Japanese macaques, often called "snow monkeys," and long-armed gibbons, through four topics:

    1. How did Japanese people create realistic paintings of monkeys?
    2. What kind of ideas are behind artworks that show monkeys?
    3. In Japan, monkeys were mountain gods and protectors of horses.
    4. There is a monkey god in Indian mythology

Highlights of the Exhibition

Monkeys, By Mori Sosen, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, Edo period, 19th century, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, gift of Nagai Iwao

The painter Mori Sosen was famous for his realistic portrayals of monkeys. In this work he depicts a mother monkey with her infants.

 

Monkey Shaped Clay Object, Monkey Shaped Clay Object, From Shinpukuji Temple Shell Mound, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, Jomon period, 1000-400 BC

Through the wide space between the mouth and nose, as well as the protruding bottom, the creator of this clay figurine succeeded in portraying some of the distinguishing characteristics of a monkey.
 

 

 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Monkeys, By Mori Sosen, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, Edo period, 19th century, Formerly owned by Kuki Ryuichiro, gift of Nagai Iwao
Hundred Monkeys, By Kano Tanshin, Edo period, 18th century
Monkey Shaped Clay Object, Monkey Shaped Clay Object, From Shinpukuji Temple Shell Mound, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, Jomon period, 1000-400 BC
 

Pamphlet

Family Gallery： Monkeys in Art
Family Gallery： Monkeys in Art

The pamphlet is distributed in Heiseikan Thematic Exhibition Room during the thematic exhibition period.

PDF（PDF, 3.6MB）

 

Related Events
Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room  April 17, 2018 (Tue)   14:00 - 14:30   RESERVE_DAY
May 13, 2018 (Sun)   9:00 - 12:30   RESERVE_FINISH
Exhibitions