Artists of Shunyo-kai: Celebrating Its 100th Anniversary

Overview

Shunyo-kai is an art society with a one-hundred-year-long history since its foundation. Artists who seceded from the yōga (Western-style painting) section of Nihon Bijutsuin (Japan Art Institute), the largest nongovernmental art organization, in 1920 (Taisho 8) gathered up-and-coming artists and inaugurated a new association named “Shunyo-kai” in 1922.

They did not aim at becoming a group of artists with kindred artistic principles. Instead, they favored “mutual individualism” and considered it important to respect each artist’s originality. Unbound by the format, member artists submitted not only oil paintings but prints, drawings, sumi ink paintings, and original works for newspaper illustrations to the group’s exhibitions. At Shunyo-kai, the artists would comment on one another’s works in order to deepen one’s studies, bring up the next generation, and solidify their foundation.

This exhibition introduces the strenuous efforts of the artists at Shunyo-kai with two hundred works from its establishment to the 1950s.

Information

Period: March 16 (Sat) - May 12 (Sun), 2024
Opening Hours: 9:00−17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Venue: Main Building 1F/2F Exhibition Gallery 1,2,3
Closed: Wednesdays, open on March 20 (Wed), closed March 21 (Thu), 2024

Admission

Adults: 800 (700) yen
University students & Seniors Over 75: 600 (500) yen
High school students & children under 18: Free
*Fees in brackets apply to groups of 20 or more people and other discounts.

Combined Tickets (Special Exhibitions + Collection Exhibitions)
Adults: 1,300 yen
University students & Seniors Over 75: 900 yen

Access

There is no general visitor parking available at the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum.
Use of public transportation is encouraged.

Public Transport

① From the No.1 bus stop of the Zenkoji Exit bus station at the JR Nagano Station, take the Alpico Route 11 bound for Uki via Zenkoji Temple, Route 16 bound for Wakatsuki Higashijo via Zenkoji Temple and Wakatsuki Danchi, or Route 17 bound for Wakatsuki Higashijo via Zenkoji Temple and Nishijo, and get off at the Zenkoji-kita bus stop. It takes about 15 minutes. The museum is a 3-minute walk east from the stop.

② From the No.1 bus stops of the Zenkoji Exit bus station at the JR Nagano Station, take Binzuru-go buses bound for Zenkoji Temple, and get off at the Zenkoji Daimon bus stop. The ride takes approximately 13 minutes. Walk along the omotesando approach up to the main hall of the Zenkoji Temple, then turn right toward Joyama Park; approximately a 10-minute walk.
On weekends and holidays, get off at the Joyama Koen-mae bus stop.

③ If you take the Nagano Dentetsu Line, get off at Zenkoji-shita Station and walk toward Joyama Park; approximately 10 minutes.