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TOKYO METROPOLITAN TEIEN ART MUSEUM

Looking at Architecture 2021 The Lustrous Colors of Art Deco

Dates

Saturday, April 24 - Sunday, June 13, 2021

Hours

10AM 〜 6PM

(Last admission at 17:30)
Venue
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Closed
Closed every Monday
Except for May 3 (holiday), and Thursday, May 6.
Exhibition admission
Admission Tickets
Adults Group
Adults ¥1,000 ¥800
University students（Vocational students） ¥800 ¥640
Middle & high school students ¥500 ¥400
65 and above ¥500 ¥400
Looking at Architecture 2021 The Lustrous Colors of Art Deco Images

“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.

A light-filled Art Deco mansion
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.

Priceless original furniture and interior decorations
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.

Recreation of original table settings and other atmospheric details
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)

Exhibition Title
Looking at Architecture 2021 The Lustrous Colors of Art Deco
Dates
Saturday, April 24 - Sunday, June 13, 2021
Venue

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Main Building & Annex
5-21-9, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel 050-5541-8600

Closed
Closed every Monday
Opening times
10:00 - 18:00
  • (Last admission at 17:30)
Exhibition admission
Adults ¥1,000 （¥800）
University students ¥800 （¥640）
Middle & high school students ¥500 （¥400）
65 and above ¥500 （¥400）

  1. Figures in parentheses are group admission fees (for groups of 20 or more).

Organized by
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
With the annual co-sponsorship of
Toda Corporation, Bloomberg L.P.

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.

  1. This is a museum, so please refrain from any activity that may disturb the people around you.。
  2. Please do not use flash, reflectors, tripods, selfie sticks, or telephoto lenses.
  3. Staff may ask you to refrain from taking photographs due to safety concerns.
  4. Please refrain from taking video.
  5. To avoid the risk of dropping equipment or damaging objects, please do not take photographs from above objects, or lean your body when taking photographs.
  6. Please be aware that posting photos on social networking sites may violate the portrait rights of other visitors.
  7. Actions that could damage artworks or the building are prohibited.