*Exhibiting at 1F deux Opening Party: May 3rd (Sat) 17:00-

*Exhibiting at space 2F

This exhibition displays miniature figures who live in a small apartment. They enjoy their ordinary life, such as relaxing, doing yoga, reading the newspaper, thinking... Matsuura also showcases his fantasy creatures at a separate display space.

"Pictures whose heart dances in unrestricted color. Sculptures whose unwavering presence never drops. In my hands if only I can blend these two things together..." (Statement by the artist)

The exhibition eliminates the boundaries between traditional and contemporary art.

Art Party: April 18th (Fri) 18:00-

This is Noritake Kinashi's new challenge. The works were created with the influence of many artists, with lively colors and curves. Satirizing the society with a good sense of humor and a positive vigor, Noritake uses colors to indicate the importance of family and friends, and the "memories of the heart". Approximately 100 items will be on display. [Image: "Reach Out" (2007) acrylic on canvas]

*Exhibiting in the garden

*Exhibiting at 8F Exhibition Room

This is an exhibition of works that have captured the mysterious power of light.

This exhibition features artworks from the Heian period that have been selected from the museum collection.

Part I: April 19th (Mon) - May 11th (Sun) Part II: May 13th (Tue) - June 1st (Sun)

Horses have been an important partner to humans throughout history. In fact, horse-power was crucial in establishing civilization. The exhibition specifically focuses on the mythical Pegasus, which is often a symbol of beauty, power, and strength. The works on display include artifacts and art works from the Greek and Roman Empires, China, Japan, and western Asia. *Exhibiting at East/West New annex [Image: "Silver of Korinthos" courtesy of Equine Museum of Japan]

This exhibition features about 110 treasures that have been kept by the three temples, Eifuku-ji, Yachu-ji, and Taiseisyogun-ji, which have a strong relationship with Prince Shotoku. Exhibition highlights include screen paintings from the 14th century that depict the life of Prince Shotoku. These paintings have also gone through a major restoration and their vibrant colors will be available for public view after 500 years. [Image: "Pictorial biography of Prince Shotoku" (Nambokucho to Muromachi period) courtesy of Eifuku-ji, Osaka]

The Ashiya City Museum of Art & History currently maintains a collection of about 1400 works. The works mostly concentrate on those by local artists. This exhibition focuses especially on Shizan Uera's calligraphy works (1926-95), Kousai Yamada's Nihonga (1906-97), and Émile Antoine Bourdelle's relief works (1861-1929). *Exhibiting at Exhibition Room 2 [Image: Kosai Yamada "Sanboukan" (early 1970s) courtesy of the museum]

Augustino is one of the major artists in Makonde sculpture, and he creates works related to fertility. He belongs to the Makonde tribe and started leaning half-abstract sculpture when he was 15 years old. Augustino currently produces half-abstract sculptural works that have flowing lines. This exhibition features his works with motifs such as maternal figures and the water fairy.

The relationship between Ryouhei Koiso and Churyo Sato began after they broke away from the then-called Imperial Art Academy and formed the New Creative Faction Committee. The New Creative Faction Committee was founded in 1936 with nine members, starting with Koiso himself, as well as Genichiro Inokuma, in opposition to the revival of the Teiten after its 1935 re-organization. Initially just established as a painting group, in 1939 a further seven artists, including Sato and Yasutake Funakoshi, joined it and created the sculpture division. The re-named New Creative Committee is now organized into three areas, that of painting, sculpture and space design. There was disparity in this meeting of the fields of painting and sculpture, but as two figurative artists it is not hard to imagine how they found mutual stimulation. Sato himself said admiringly of Koiso, "Out of the many portraits, for myself the strongest have been "Practice Room and Dancing Children", painted at 35, and "Chorus", painted at 38. The intent vision of the young boys and girls, the depth of emotion restrained and given out by Koiso's art; the secret of youth is really shown off." Here one can see the deep impression that Koiso's work made on Sato. The two artists expressed much on the spatial difference between surface and dimension, but in their work it can surely be said that their mutuality was in the promotion of model studies. Koiso from early on successively employed models that he had selected, and his own family; likewise Sato also created work that repeatedly featured his relations and favorite models. For them both, the model gave out an intimate presence of daily life, and was a source of artistic inspiration. It is in their ideas regarding models that one can likely see what they had in common. This exhibition is made up of works of models and people by Koiso and Sato, works that capture the emotions of the moment and the mind. An up to now unseen symphony of surface and dimension will be born, and the interaction of influences between these two similar figurative artists and the heightened charms of their respective works will create a deep impression on many visitors. [Image: Churyo Sato "Hat, Summer" (1972)]

[Image: Eitaro Ishigaki "Bonus March"]

Shotoku Taishi left the capital of Asuka and went north up the Asuka River, establishing Horyuji at the village of Ikaruga. This exhibition will display works from Touin Monastery, including fully restored pieces.

The exhibition is held throughout the year, and displays sculptures, paintings, crafts, calligraphy texts, and historical texts from Shiga prefecture. Exhibited items (especially those recognized as cultural heritage items) will rotate on a scheduled basis.

Focusing on the concept of nature, Makio Yamaguchi created a boat-shaped sculpture titled "In Stone" and placed it in a traditional Japanese garden. By imitating and harmonizing with nature, Yamaguchi created this work as his coffin. The granite surfaced is painted with red ochre and the sculpture has a quiet but powerful presence. Seven of Yamaguchi's works, including one that received the Nakahara Teijirou award in 1983, are exhibited around the museum buildings. [Image: "In Stone" at Paramita garden (c) 2004 paramita museum. All Rights Reserved]

The exhibition features the world of when Nobunaga Oda fought at Hongan-ji Temple in Osaka. In addition to a 1/20th scale miniature town model, the Bunraku puppet "Naniwaya" is exhibited in the Edo period zone. *Exhibiting at 9F [Image: "Naniwaya"]

*Exhibiting in Room 2

The exhibition will showcase the stone gorilla works and gorilla paintings of Hiroshi Abe.

In the late 1960's, the Mono movement in Japan created a new wave in the Japanese art world and was eventually recognized internationally. The core person behind this movement was Nobuo Sekine, who created "Topology - Land." Sekine has been an active artist in the Kansai area, and his career bloomed after the release of "Topology - Land." The exhibition will be held in both YOD gallery and Kyobundo Gallery in Osaka. YOD gallery will feature his latest works, and Kyobundo Gallery will have works created before and around 1990 on display. Art Talk: May 17th (Sat) 15:00- [Image: "Magnetic Field" (2008) wood, paper, gold leaf, pigment, 72.7x60.6cm]

"The Oikos of the exhibition title comes from ancient Greek, meaning a place of residence, and forms the root of the words 'ecology' and 'economy'. I have for a long time been concerned about the estrangement between the 'environment', that which humanity is trying to protect through the Kyoto Protocol, and the entity of nature. Humanity is fated only ever to be able to consider along its own scale of thought. Like a seed the things gained a posteriori swell too much, and we cannot then understand the gravity of what has been caused. This time I will be displaying a work mainly related to human residence, a sensation to open your eyes a bit." (Statement by the artist)

The exhibition features 40 artists from Japan and around the world that will join together to show their works across a vast range of media. The exhibition is divided into two one-week shows, with artworks grouped by media. Painting, Sculpture: May 20th - 25th Photography, Video/New Genres: May 27th - June 1st Performance Art Live Event: May 31st 20:00- Opening Reception: May 20th (Tue) 19:00- Closing Reception: May 31st (Sat) 19:00-

This exhibition will display a clay animation film, alongside stills and the actual props and sets using in the production. It will document the turning points that mark the shift from the artist's toil to the full releasing of his creativity.

"People's Art" arose from Korea's unique traditions and the campaign for democracy. Taking 109 pieces from the Korean National Modern Art Museum's collection of paintings and sculptures, the currents of Korean Realism will be introduced. Art Talk: June 7th (Sat) 14:00- "1980s People's Art and the Currents of Korean Realism" Ko Sonjun (Niigata Prefectural Bandaijima Art Museum Liberal Arts Department) *For more information, telephone the museum on 07-9833-0164 [Image: Yun O "Father" (1983)]

Bruno Munari (1907-1998) was an Italian designer active in a range of fields, from painting to product design, art education, graphics and sculpture, who left behind a oeuvre unique, dream-like and overflowing in humor. To mark the centenary of Munari's birth, this exhibition, starting from the task of a "book" taking on his life, will comprehensively introduce his colorful career. Focusing on his early publications, it is composed of over three hundred works of picture book manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, sketches and films. Munari's work is filled with a child-like curiosity, ideas free and lithe, a rich creativity, and a warming perspective on humanity and nature. It is said to be a treasure forever continuing to glitter in our hearts. Colorful, brimming with the surprises of dreams, both adults and children can enjoy being in the enchanting fantasia of Munari's world. Children's Workshop "Make a Picture Book": June 15th (Sun) 13:00-15:30 Reservation required ¥300 *For more information, visit the URL below. Children's Workshop "Make a Card": June 28th (Sat) 13:30-16:00 Reservation required *For more information, visit the URL below. Lecture: June 8th (Sun) 13:30- The Museum of Modern Art Shiga Fine Arts Faculty Member *At Lecture Hall

The exhibition features wooden sculptures that were created from a ragged (old and used) time. The larger sculptures almost reach to a person's height. *Exhibiting at Room A