"Redon and his World. Beyond Imagination"

The Pola Museum of Art, Hakone, Japan

22. 07. 2018 – 02. 12. 2018

Artists: Kazuhiro Azawa, Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Henri Edmond Cross, Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Doré, Albrecht Dürer, Paul Gauguin, Francisco de Goya, Grandville, Katsushika Hokusai, Leiko Ikemura, Oshara Kazuhisa, Konoike Tomoko, Shigeru Mizuki, Claude Monet, Gustave Moreau, Kanosuke Oka, Odilion Redon, Georges Seurat, a. o.


Exhibition in cooperation with: Gifu Prefectural Art Museum


Is he really a "lonely artist"? Let’s try to capture the art of Redon. Odilon Redon (1840-1916) who worked in France from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century was born in almost the same generation as the Impressionist painters, but in a world where creepy monsters wander in a mysterious vision he left a full fantasy scene in paintings. Because of his mysterious paintings, Redon has been considered a solitary artist who has continued to produce strange works while facing the "inner world".

This exhibition unveils the artist myth called a solitary fantasy painter that has been built up so far and reveals the appearance of "hidden" artist Redon who kept exploring in the era when various values ​​intersect. Through comparison with contemporary writers pursuing fantasy and the mysterious world, we will examine today's significance of the art that Redon created.

Rudon turned away from Impressionist art that prosper at the end of the 19th century and continued to draw a mysterious and fantastic world. Furthermore, among the "symbolism" that was widespread at the end of the century, it has been regarded as a solitary artist who did not belong to a specific school, and has repeatedly conducted his own exploration. However, in recent years, through objective analysis, facts have been revealed that he was actually influenced by past masters, contemporary art work, popular culture such as illustrations.

On display in this exhibition will be 101 works from domestic collections of redon including 88 borrowed from the Gifu Prefectural Art Museum boasting the world-famous Redon collection. A masterpiece that covers from the print work to pastel, drawing, oil painting, decorative art, from early to late years is gathered at Hakone.

The mysterious world that Redon produced in the turbulent era of the late 19th century is alive also in our living modern era. In this exhibition, we will introduce contemporary artists pursuing fantastic themes that communicate with Redon, such as Kazuhiro Azawa, Leiko Ikemura, and Tomoko Konoike.
Also from Mizuki Shigeru, by comparing the works of manga artists developing fantasy manga by expression of "eyeball" reminiscent of Redon from Iwae Masami "Parasite Beast" and Oshima Shuzo "Evil Flower”. We will examine today's significance of Redon art not only in this century.



Pola Museum of Art
Kozukayama 1285, Sengokuhara
Hakone
Ashigarashimo District
Kanagawa Prefecture
250-0631 Japan


sources:
www.polamuseum.or.jp/exhibition/20180722s01/
www.polamuseum.or.jp/english/