Jump to content

Dueling Geniuses - The Greatest Highlights of Japanese Artists

  • Image of "left:Cypress Tree, by Kano Eitoku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (detail) right:Pine Trees, by Hasegawa Tohaku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (detail)"

    left:Cypress Tree, by Kano Eitoku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (detail)
    right:Pine Trees, by Hasegawa Tohaku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (detail)

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Special Exhibition Galleries
    July 8, 2008 (Tue) - August 17, 2008 (Sun)

    In an innovative approach, celebrated works of 12 pairs of great masters of Japanese art traditions, from the medieval period to the modern age, are presented as opponents in a showdown. The relationships between the "Dueling Geniuses", such as Unkei and Kaikei, and Kano Eitoku and Hasegawa Tohaku, take various forms, including teacher/student, rival, and influence. Compare and contrast these works, sense the connections between the artists, and feel as though they are competing against each other.

 General Information
Period Tuesday, July 8 - Sunday, August 17, 2008
Venue Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 17:00
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays until 18:00
Fridays until 20:00
(last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays (Except for Monday, July 21; Monday, August 11, 2008), Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Admissions Adults: 1,500 (1,300/1,200) yen
University students: 1,200 (1,000/800) yen
High school students: 900 (700/500) yen
Junior high school students and under: Free
* Prices shown in ( ) indicate advance/group (more than 20 persons) discount tickets.
* Persons with physical or mental disabilities are allowed free entry with one accompanying guest each.
* Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours) and e-Ticket Pia (P-code:Advance tickets=688-110; Day tickets=688-111), Lawson Ticket (L-code:33304), E-Plus, CN Playguide, Circle-K, Sunkus, JTB, Seven Eleven, and other major playguides until July 7, 2008.
* Advance pair tickets (two admissions, 2600yen) are sold at Lawson Ticket until Monday, July 7, 2008 (L-code: 33303).
Day pair tickets (two admissions, 2800yen) are sold at Ticket Pia during the exhibition period (P-code: 688-130).
* Special exhibition "France Meets Japan — Ukiyo-e Influence on French Ceramics" (July 1 - August 3, 2008) requires a separate admission fee. A total of 100yen discount will apply to day tickets when both special exhibitions are seen on the same day.
Access 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station
Organizers Tokyo National Museum, Kokka-sha, The Asahi Shimbun
With the Support of Agency for Cultural Affairs
With the Special
Sponsorship of
Diam Co., Ltd.
With the Sponsorship of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
With the Cooperation of Tokyo Bijutsu Club, Japan Airlines
General Inquiries 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial: in Japanese)
Exhibition Official Website http://www.asahi.com/kokka/ (in Japanese)
The website has closed with the end of the exhibition.
 Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition focuses on 24 masters of Japanese art in 12 pairs, whose careers enlightened the history of Japanse art. Most of these masters have been discussed in the Kokka journal and here their works are introduced in "dueling" rivalry format. This unprecedented style is an experiment aimed at shining a new light on the individuality of the artists and their works.
Greatest Highlites of Japanese Artist
 Major Works on Display
Sesshu vs Sesson
Hui Ke Offering His Arm to Bodhidharma
 
Lu Dong-bin
 
Hui Ke Offering His Arm to Bodhidharma
By Sesshu Toyo
Muromachi period, dated 1496
National Tresure
Sainenji, Aichi
 
Lu Dong-bin
By Sesson Shukei
Muromachi period, 16th century
Important Cultural Property
The Museum Yamatobunkakan, Nara
(On exhibit through July 27, 2008)
Eitoku vs Tohaku
Cypress Tree
 
Pine Trees
 
Cypress Tree
By Kano Eitoku
Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century
National Tresure
Tokyo National Museum
 
Pine Trees (detail)
By Hasegawa Tohaku
Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century
National Tresure
Tokyo National Museum
(On exhibit through July 27, 2008)
Chojiro vs Koetsu
Black Raku Tea Bowl, Known as Shunkan
 
Black Raku Tea Bowl, Known as Shigure
 
Black Raku Tea Bowl, known as "Shunkan"
By Chojiro
Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century
Important Cultural Property
Mitsui Memorial Museum, Tokyo
 
Black Raku Tea Bowl, known as "Shigure"
By Hon'ami Koetsu
Edo period, 17th century
Important Cultural Property
Nagoya City Museum, Aichi
Okyo vs Rosetsu
Tigers
 
Tiger
 
Tigers
By Maruyama Okyo
Edo period, 18th century
Private Collection
 
Tiger
By Nagasawa Rosetsu
Edo period, dated 1786
Important Cultural Property
Muryoji, Wakayama