“The Lustrous Colors of Art Deco” is the theme of this year’s Looking at Architecture exhibition, held annually to allow visitors to enjoy the beauty and charms of the Former Residence of Prince Asaka (now the main building of the Teien Art Museum), constructed in 1933. Previous themes have included the history, interior decoration, building materials, and various details of the building. This year focuses on colors, a key element of the interior design, as a way to introduce the rich palette of the Art Deco era.
During their stay in France, Prince Asaka and Princess Nobuko were fascinated by the beauty of the Art Deco style, and after returning to Japan, they actively incorporated the spirit of Art Deco into the construction of their own residence. The white of the plaster ceiling, the black of the lacquered columns, the metallic colors of the fittings, the natural hues of the wood and stone, the transparency of the various types of glass, and the lush greenery of the garden seen from the windows—the residence features a wide variety of colors that exude flamboyance and serenity, and continue to charm people even after 90 years.
This exhibition draws upon years of research and study to highlight the colors used in the Former Residence of Prince Asaka, and resurrects the atmosphere of the past by recreating living spaces, a highlight of the annual Looking at Architecture series. Paintings and books from the Art Deco period are exhibited in the galleries in the annex and provide an overview of the color palette popular at the time.
We hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity to enliven your mind with new colors.
Exhibition：
Looking at Architecture 2021
The Lustrous Colors of Art Deco
Dates：
Saturday, 24 April - Sunday 13 June, 2021
Closed every Monday except for May 3 (holiday), and Thursday, May 6.
Venue:
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
5-21-9, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel 050-5541-8600
Hours:
10:00 - 18:00 (Last admission at 17:30)
Admission：
| General | Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | General¥1,000 | Advance/Group¥800 |
| University students | General¥800 | Advance/Group¥640 |
| Middle & high school students | General¥500 | Advance/Group¥400 |
| Senior (65 and over) | General¥500 | Advance/Group¥400 |
・Figures in parentheses are group admission fees (for groups of 20 or more).
・Admission is free for elementary and younger students and for middle school students residing in or attending school in Tokyo.
・Admission is free for visitors (and two accompanying persons) with a Physical Disability Certificate, Intellectual Disability Certificate, Rehabilitation Certificate, Mental Disability Certificate, or Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate.
・Admission is free for teacher-led educational visits by Tokyo primary, junior high, and high school students.
・Admission is free for seniors (65 and above) on the third Wednesday of each month.
Suspended until further notice
Organized by
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
With the co-sponsorship of
Toda Corporation,
Bloomberg L.P. 
During this exhibition, the museum opens the bespoke curtains on the windows, which are ordinarily kept closed to protect artworks. Visitors can enjoy a soothing time in the residence with a view of the garden outside and the warmth of the soft natural light.
Among the attractions of the Looking at Architecture exhibition are the Former Resident of Prince Asaka’s original furniture pieces and other well-preserved interior decorations. Visitors may also examine photographs of the residence in its early years, which are on display in the exhibition room. The building has undergone repairs and restoration to carefully preserve its historical value.
This exhibition features recreated table settings, as well as other details that allow visitors to imagine how the building looked in its days as a residence. (Photograph from past exhibition)
Photography is allowed during the exhibition. Before taking photographs, please be sure to read the following rules and follow the instructions of the museum staff.
Top row from left：Henri Rapin, “Provencal paysage with two children on foot of mountain Sainte-Victoire,” c. 1920-1930; Salon, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum; Main Staircase, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Middle row from left：Prince’s Sitting Room, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Main Building; La Gazette du bon ton, 1924-25, edited by Lucien Vogel.
Bottom row from left：Front façade of the Main Building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum; Floor mosaic at the Main Entrance of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum; Chairs designed by André Groult, backrest painted by Marie Laurencin, made by Adolphe Chaneaux, ca. 1924
All works are in the collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.
