Toba Mika Official Site

NEW!　”Toba Mika Exhibition—Journey to the Dawn” at Tamesaburo Annex, Furukawa Museum 　

 

Dedication of “Crisp Nishino-kyo” to Yakusiji Temple　

On March 31st 2011, Toba Mika dedicated her art work” “Crisp Nishino-kyo” at the occasion of Hanaesiki ceremony which has one thousand year’s old long history. This art work depicted cherry blossomed Yakusiji temple was produced for the special exhibition “Toba Mika Exhibition—Nara and Hanoi bound together with Katazome” to celebrate Nara-Heijo1300th and Hanoi1000th year. It is a great honor for her to dedicate this art work to Yakusiji Temple. The dedication ceremony was taken place in front of the national treasure designated Yakusi-Sanzon statutes at the time of Hanaesiki on a beautiful spring day.

 

Two Ancient Capitals Nara and Hanoi bound together with KATAZOME

　This special exhibition in commemoration of Nara 1300th Year and Hanoi 1000th Year was held in Nara, Japan from October 5th to November 10th 2010, and in Hanoi, Vietnam from December 6th to December 25th 2010.

　In Nara, the exhibition was held at World Heritage designated Yakusiji Temple. Thanks to the special support of Grand Master Hoin Yamada of Yakusiji Temple,Toba Mika’s Katazome paintings were exhibited in three pavilions; National Treasure pavilion TOINDO, Grand Auditorium, and Jyuhoukan as a main pavilion. In the main pavilion, 19 paintings were exhibited including “Crisp Nishi no Kyo” and “The place to embrace calm”, and more than 50 thousand people came to enjoy the Toba Mika’s contemporary art works.
In the TOINDO pavilion, “Prayer in the morning—from Mt.Mikasa” and My Son—Heated Ruins” were exhibited next to the National Treasure statute of Kannon, and in the Grand Auditorium, “Monsoon” and “The Shimmer of the heated air” were exhibited, and were viewed by more than half a million people who visited the two pavilions.
　The exhibition was favorably reported by many newspapers, and was also broadcasted in a number of TV programs including the prestigious NHK Sunday Museum art scene. On October 9th, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress visited the Yakusiji Temple, and Toba Mika’s Katazome Painting “Early Morning-Hue” was appreciated by Their Majesties.
On October 16th, “Japan-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Forum” was held, and the Vietnamese Ambassador, H.E. Guyen Phu Binh and Nara Prefecture’s Governor Mr. Shogo Arai delivered congratulatory speeches. Then, four panelists, Grand Master Yamada, Pottery artist Koubei Kato, Toba Mika, and Ms.Pham Thi Thu Giang, the expert on Japan’s culture from Vietnam made wonderful remarks, highlighting the importance of culture to enhance the friendly relationship of our two countries. In the following reception, Chef Noboru Inoue, the Owner Chef of “Chez Inno” one of the most refined French restaurants in Tokyo, and his staffs served wonderful cuisine, and all the participants including Mr. Fujio Cho, Chairman of TOYOTA enjoyed.

　Then, in Hanoi, the exhibition was held at the World Heritage designated The Temple of Literature and the Vietnam National Museum of Art. The exhibition was received enthusiastically in Vietnam, and many Vietnamese people as well as a number of foreign tourists came to enjoy the paintings. “Crisp Nishi no Kyo” cherry blossom painting of Nara was exhibited in the Grand Hall of the Temple of Literature, and created a very special space. More than 30 paintings, many of which depicted changing sceneries of Vietnam attracted Vietnamese people’s interest, and was widely reported by the Vietnamese media (Please see the attached Vietnamese Newspaper).

　Thanks to the wholehearted support of so many people, both in Japan and Vietnam, the Toba Mika’s Exhibition came to close with a great success, and we hope that heart-to-heart communications and friendship between our two countries were greatly enhanced through this Exhibition.

＜TOBA MIKA’s Exhibition in Nara, Yakusiji Temple＞