The Making of Munakata Shiko: Celebrating the 120th Anniversary of the Artist’s Birth

The print Artist Munakata Shiko (1903–1975) garnered such international acclaim as “the world-revered Munakata.” His single-minded devotion to the printing blocks is etched in the memories of many people. Aomori, Tokyo, and Toyama, where he lived or based his production, each had a major influence on his development as an artist. To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Munakata’s birth, this exhibition will be presented jointly by three museums in the three regions: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Aomori Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. While crossing over various fields such as woodblock prints, Japanese-style paintings, and oil paintings, Munakata traversed the “media” unique to the era ranging from book jakets and illustrations, and commercial designs to his film, television, and radio appearances.
Centered on the relationship between Munakata and each region, the exhibition illustrates his diverse activities to reconsider the nature of Munakata Shiko as an artist.