“Print Kingdom”
Masters of Prints are here!
Exhibition Overview
An adventure to visit stories of the mind engraved on printmaking plates!
The excitement when going off on a journey and the beating heart when encountering something new or falling in love. The anxiety and agony that cannot be helped and the sense of relief when getting home. Transcending the region and the times, senses and emotions that we encounter in our ordinarily and extraordinary lives have been engraved and depicted in printmaking plates.
Some of you may think it’s not easy to enjoy the works when you hear “print works” because the first image that comes to mind is, “isn’t it a copy when we can’t have the original?” or “techniques seem somehow difficult.” However, practical facilities which enable the reproduction of the same works over and over and various techniques that were developed to suite the situation and environment have allowed artists to produce print works that nestled close to people since long ago. When we look at the works and try to capture what they say, we can actually find a commonality in the frame of mind between woodblock prints in Japan and copperplate prints in Western countries.
This exhibition offers you the adventure of wandering around a story of the mind engraved on print works from all ages and cultures while visiting Print Kingdom, which depicts just about anything through printmaking plates. Let’s find out how themes such as “love,” “mystery,” “agony” and “salvation” have been depicted over the ages.
The Kingdom exhibits various print works such as “the Hyakumanto-darani (Million Sutra Pagodas)”, which was produced more than 1000 years ago and is said to be one of the oldest print works in the world, print works by the masters in Japanese art and Western art like Picasso and Hokusai, and exceptional works created by university students. Some of the works may make you wonder “is this really a print work?” Embark on a journey to find your favorite piece thinking of history as if spun by the printmaking plates and fabulous depiction techniques that transcend practicality.
For the purpose of information, we have a guidebook to help you appreciate print works, which children will also enjoy. We also exhibit print techniques in a way to help you understand them easily.
*About 180 works to be exhibited in total. Some of them may be rotated during the first half and the second half of exhibition period.
Exhibition Information
| Duration | Saturday, June 30 – Sunday, September 2, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays * Open on Monday, July 16 (national holiday) and closed on Tuesday, July 17. |
| Hours | Weekdays: 10:00 - 17:00 (Visitors must enter by 16:30) Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: 10:00 - 17:30 (Visitors must enter by 17:00) |
| Admission | General visitors: 800 (600) yen College and high school students: 400 (300) yen Senior citizens of 65 years old or over: 400 (300) yen Free for junior high school students and younger * Admission for this exhibition also covers Imprint MACHIDA 2018 Araki Tamana Spinning cocoon memories. * Free admission on June 30 (the opening day) * The fees shown in parenthesis are for groups of 20 visitors or more * Half price for visitors who bring a Physical Disability Certificate, “Ai no Techo” (Intellectual Disability Certificate) or Mental Disability Certificate, and one person accompanying them. |
| Venue | Special Exhibition Room 1 |
| Organizer | Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts |
▶Print Kingdom Pamphlet（Japanese only） PDF[2.5MB]
Related Events
* Details and booking method will be updated as necessary.
The 30th Anniversary Event Quiz! Print Kingdom
A quiz variety to solve mysteries of Print Kingdom!
We will reveal secrets of the exhibition through a participatory quiz and interesting exposition.
You may win a wonderful gift if you get the answers right!
Date and time: Saturday, July 28, 14:00 - 15:30
Speaker: Art Teller Tony
Target participants: Anyone from child to adult
Capacity: 120 on a first-come basis (no prior booking required)
* Free admission. However, an admission ticket (or ticket stub) for this exhibition is required to those older than high school students.
* Please come directly to the lecture hall on the 1st floor.
Museum for 0-year-olds and Up ★ Family Enjoyment Session
You can enjoy the arts together with your baby.
Surrounded by colors and shapes, would you like to find your family’s favorite work?
Date and time: Wednesday, July 18, from 10:30 - 11:30
Speaker: Tomita Megumi (representative director, association of art friendship from baby of NPO corporation)
Target audience: 0-year-olds to pre-school children and their guardians
Capacity: 15 groups (prior booking required)
* Free admission. However, guardians must present an exhibition ticket valid for the day.
* Please gather in the lecture hall on the 1st floor, and we will then move to the exhibition room.
Printmaking Experience in Summer Vacation
Pull a prank on a master piece? Let’s create a new world by stamping all over the “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi),” a masterpiece of the Edo period, with stamps prepared by students from Joshibi University of Art and Design.
Date and Time: Friday, July 27, 14:00 - 16:00 (Session to last approximately 10 minutes)
Target participants: Elementary and junior high school students
Capacity: About 70 on a first-come basis (no prior booking required) * This session will end once we run out of materials.
* Free admission.
* Please come directly to the lecture hall on the 1st floor.
* We may have to ask you to wait for your turn when crowded.
(Supported by: Joshibi University of Art and Design, Printmaking Course)
Parent-Child Exploration! Museum Backyard Tour
We will explore the back of the museum such as the repository, huge elevator and machine room etc. that you don’t usually get to see.
Date and Time: Saturday, August 4 (1) 10:30 - 11:30 (2) 14:00 - 15:00
Target participants: Elementary and junior high school students and their guardians
Capacity: 10 groups for each session (prior booking required)
* Free admission. However, guardians must present an exhibition ticket valid for the day.
* Please gather in the lobby on the 1st floor, and we will then move to the museum backyard.
(Supported by: Museology interns)
Commentary of Artwork
Special Talk by the Museum Director
Date and Time: Monday, July 16 (national holiday), 14:00 - (for approximately 45 minutes)
Gallery Talks by the Curator
Date and Time: Sunday, July 29 and Sunday, August 19, 14:00 - (each for approximately 30 minutes)
* Please come to the entrance of Special Exhibition Room 1 with an exhibition ticket valid for the day.
Let’s Talk at the Museum Free-Talk Day
On Wednesdays and Saturdays while the exhibition is being held
This is an attempt to have visitors enjoy talking about the works rather than observing silence for viewing.
Please feel free to visit us on these days, even if you have small children.
“Imprint” MACHIDA 2018 Araki Tamana Spinning cocoon memories
Saturday, June 30 - Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Special Exhibition Room 2
* Admission for Print Kingdom also covers this exhibition.
Mini Special Exhibition Series of Modern Artist Fukazawa Yukio Mastering the Life
Wednesday, June 20 - Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Permanent Exhibition Room, Free admission
