The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art 北海道立近代美術館

Published on : 26/03/2019
by : J.R.

Western and Japanese art in Hokkaido

Located right in the center of Sapporo, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art offers beautiful collections allowing you to discover Japanese art, but also European art, from the 19th century to the present day!

The "kinbi" of Sapporo

Opened in July 1977, the museum is housed in a beautiful modern building surrounded by splendid gardens in Sapporo. It is nicknamed "Kinbi" by locals. It comes from the contraction of Kindai Bijutukan, meaning "modern art museum" in Japanese. Since its creation, its collection has grown and the rooms and reserves now house around 4,800 works. The museum has hosted a wide range of exhibitions, with both regional and international themes, and often original.

The museum also serves as a venue for various presentations and workshops with an emphasis on improving its educational activities and information services. Concerts, happenings, and artistic events are therefore regularly organized and presented to the public in the large hall of the museum.

Beautiful collections

Like any modern art museum around the world, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art began its collection at the end of the 19th century .

It is in this case, for Japan, the Meiji era , covering a period from 1868 to 1912. This crucial period sees the birth of modern Japan, during a period of reforms and novelties.

The rooms thus present works by artists associated with Hokkaido during this period until the end of the 20th century.

Musée hokkaido — One of the exhibition halls and the staircase
Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art

The second part of the collection includes works in glass : sculptures, jewelry, lamps, vases and glasses of all kinds, fine art objects. This large panel allows you to discover glass art from the Art Nouveau style of the end of the 19th century to contemporary pieces . Both international artists and Japanese artists are represented there.

The museum is also very well known for its fine collection of works belonging to the School of Paris . During the interwar period, French and foreign artists living in Paris created this innovative artistic center unequaled for the time. The Kinbi organizes its collection around Jules Pascin , an American expressionist artist then living in the capital of the Arts. You will be able to admire his most beautiful paintings there, as well as those of other artists based in Montparnasse.

Finally, the last part of the collection presents the latest trends in contemporary art, particularly optical art .

Temporary and special exhibitions

In addition to the permanent collections, which are presented on a seasonal rotation four times a year, the museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions .

Thanks to partnerships, works from museums around the world are regularly presented. Great contemporary artists are also highlighted.

For example, in 2018 the museum organized exhibitions of the finest works from the collections of the Fuji Museum of Art in Tokyo , the Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto , but also on themes such as Japanese calligraphy .

In 2019, contemporary Japanese painters Koji Kinutani (born in 1943) and Fukai Katsumi (1948-1978) are highlighted through their expressionist works tinged with spiritualism.

Address, timetable & access

Address
Phone
+81 (0)11-644-6881
Timetable
Tozai Line Nishi Juhatchome Station or Doritsu Kindai Bijutsukan Bus Stop.
Price
Adult: 510 yen ($4.25/4€) High school student and student: 250 yen ($2/1.75€)
Access
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.