Contemporary Bonsai Masters Ⅲ Tomio Yamada―Bonsai: Quest for Beauty
Date：Fri, JAN 31, 2020 to Wed, MAR 4, 2020
Place：Collection Gallery, Special Exhibition Room
The 10th Anniversary Spring Special Exhibition
Contemporary Bonsai Masters Ⅲ Tomio Yamada―Bonsai: Quest for Beauty
As Part 3 in the series introducing famous contemporary bonsai artists, we will showcase Tomio Yamada and present his works in a Special Spring Exhibition to commemorate the museum’s 10th anniversary.
This exhibit will show a great many masterworks that have been born from Yamada’s constant struggle in pursuit of the true beauty of the art of bonsai. The exhibition will run for five weeks, with each week showcasing new works, including not only flowers such as plum and cherry blossoms that are synonymous with spring, but also creative five-needle pine ishitsuki, or rock-grown, bonsai, Chinese juniper named Luminous Reiwa (commemorating the new imperial era name), and so much more.
We will also be exhibiting, every week, the works of the “Saika Bonsai” school, which Yamada founded, and which has contributed greatly to the expansion of interest in bonsai among the general populace.
In the Exhibition Room, under the heading “The Art of Incompleteness—A Never Ending Struggle,” we will be introducing in great detail the intention and philosophy, beliefs, and more, which have inspired his work. In the photography area of the Bonsai Garden, we will also be exhibiting those works from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum collection which he had a hand in creating.
Date: from 31st JAN, 2020 to 4th MAR, 2020
Venue: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Collection gallery & Exhibition Room
Organized by: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama
Artist’s Message
It’s been over fifty years since the way of bonsai first called to me and I started creating these pieces. To show the fruits of my work of this past half-century, with this exhibit I will try to include a harmony of bonsai pine and other trees, with a focus on plum and cherry to represent springtime. I would be extremely pleased if those who visit the exhibition can get a real sense of the “beauty of early spring in Japan” as expressed in my bonsai.
Artist Profile
Tomio Yamada, Bonsai Master, 4th Generation Garden Owner of the Seikou-en Garden
Born 1938. In 1965, he began his bonsai apprenticeship under the Seikou-en’s 3rd Generation Garden Owner. He is the recipient of numerous prizes for his work, including both the Foreign Minister’s Award and the Prime Minister’s Award at the Nippon Bonsai Sakufuten. In 1983, he succeeded to the position of 4th Garden Owner of the Seikou-en Garden. He founded the Japan Bonsai Artists Association in 1991. Establishing a branch of the Association in Europe, he has been teaching bonsai in Italy, Spain, and elsewhere, expanding his field of activity the world over. Also in 1991, he announced the “Saika Bonsai” school in Mitsukoshi Shinjuku. This institution has contributed greatly to the expansion of interest in bonsai among the general populace.
Limited Ume(Hatsukari) Bonsai Exhibition for the first time in the New Year!
Date: from 4th, JAN, 2020 to 8th MAR, 2020
Bonsai Cooperation: Seikou-en Bonsai garden
Related Events Program:
Special Lecture
Spring Exhibition Lecture “The Bonsai World of Tomio Yamada: Japanese Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Bonsai”
Date and time: February 8 (Saturday), 2:00–3:30 pm
Speakers: Tomio Yamada, Uhaku Sudo
Venue: Lecture Room
Capacity: 40
* Advance registration required. Participation is free of charge.
* Application deadline: Must arrive no later than January 22 (Wednesday)
Application method: Please write your name, address (incl. postal code), telephone number, and the event name (“Spring Exhibition Lecture”) on a reply‐paid postcard, and send it to the “Special Spring Exhibition” organizers at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.
Artist Gallery Talk (in Japanese Only)
Date: from 1:30p.m. 2nd FEB, 2020
Speakers:Tomio Yamada
Venue: Collection Gallery and Exhibition Room
Capacity:Approx. 30 participants
* No reservation required. A ticket for the museum is required to take part.
Gallery Talk by the Curator (with sign language support)
Date: From 1:30 pm on February 1 (Saturday), February 15 (Saturday), and March 1 (Sunday)
Venue:Collection Gallery, Exhibition Room
Capacity:Approx. 30 participants
* All sessions will have sign language interpreting and written-summary interpreting.
* No reservation required. A ticket for the museum is required to take part.
Sakura Bonsai Workshop
We will be holding a “Cherry Tree”-themed bonsai workshop to tie in with the works shown in the Spring Exhibition. Participants will also be able to view the Spring Exhibition.
* Photo is for illustrative purposes only.
(1) Date:February 11 (Tuesday; public holiday), 10:00–11:30 am
Instructor:Torayuki Yamada (Bonsai Seikou-en Senior Managing Director) / Capacity: 13 / Fee: ¥3,000
* Advance registration required.
* Application deadline: January 29 (Wednesday)
Application method: Please write your name, address (incl. postal code), telephone number, and the event name (“Cherry Tree Bonsai Creation (1)”) on a reply‐paid postcard, and send it to the “Special Spring Exhibition” organizers at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.
(2) Date:February 11 (Tuesday; public holiday), two sessions starting 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm
Instructors: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum staff / Capacity: 16 per session / Fee: ¥3,000
* No reservation required. On-the-day registration begins one hour before each session.
Limited Special Exhibition Goyo-matsu named Higurashi
During the Special Spring Exhibition, we will also be holding a special exhibit of the five-needle pine Higurashi.
Dates: February 7 (Friday) to 12 (Wednesday)
Click here for the exhibition leaflet
