Exhibitions to Commemorate the 400^th Anniversary of Rinpa

The year 2015 marks the 400^th anniversary of the opening of the art village, later called ‘Kōetsu Village’ in Takagamine, Kyoto in 1615 by HON’AMI Kōetsu, one of artists thought to have inspired the founding of Rinpa, and the 300^th anniversary of the death of OGATA Kōrin. Exhibitions that commemorate the occasion were organized across the nation. In Kyoto, several cultural events titled ‘Rimpa 400 Year Celebration Festival’ were organized, including ‘Rinpa: The Aesthetics of the Capital’ at the Kyoto National Museum (October 10 – November 23) and ‘400^th Anniversary of the Rinpa School: The “RINPA” Image’ at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (October 9 – November 23). In addition, ‘Korin and Modern Art’ was held at the MOA Museum of Art (February 4 – March 3) and ‘Irises and Red and White Plum Blossoms: The Secret of Kōrin’s Design’ was held at the Nezu Museum (April 18 – May 17), at both of which ‘Irises’ (Nezu Museum collection) and ‘The Red and White Blossoms’ (MOA Museum of Art collection) were exhibited together. Outside of Japan, the Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Gallery organized an exhibition titled ‘Sōtatsu: Making Waves’ (October 24 – January 31, 2016). (Japanese)