Gazing up at the geometric lines of the roof, one might wonder about the stories held within the Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art, or simply, the Oriental Art Gallery. The Oriental Art Gallery opened its doors on October 23, 1974. It began its journey earlier that year. In March 1974, the exhibition building was finished. On April 1st, 1974, the organization itself was established.
The Oriental Art Gallery isn’t just a single structure. It evolved over time. The administration building followed in February 1976. The studio building was completed in February 1980. A gallery, repository room, and machinery room were added in August 1988. The museum’s design is unique. It is primarily one-storied, with some two-storied sections. This layout allows for spacious galleries arranged on a flat floor. The exterior is just as striking. The geometrically designed roofs are covered with natural slate. The outer walls are adorned with distinctive red ceramic brick from Tokoname.
The Oriental Art Gallery’s collection focuses on modern and contemporary art with ties to Chiba Prefecture. It features artists from both Japan and abroad. The collection includes works by Chu Asai, a pioneer of Western-style painting in Japan. It also showcases pieces by his students and contemporaries. Other notable artists in the collection include metalworkers Hotsuma Katori and Shinobu Tsuda. They significantly contributed to the development of modern Japanese crafts. The collection boasts a diverse range of art forms, from Kaii Higashiyama’s Japanese-style painting “Spring Snow” to Millet’s Western-style painting “Sheeps Grazing by a Hedge.” It also includes sculptures like Kotaro Takamura’s “Sitting Naked Woman,” Hotsuma Katori’s pigeon-shaped incense burner, Nanso Takazawa’s calligraphy “Syunpu-syugethu,” and Yozo Hamaguchi’s print “Roof of Paris.”
The Oriental Art Gallery has three core aims: appreciate, discuss, and create. It serves as a local community museum and a modern art museum. It strives to promote artistic activities throughout Chiba Prefecture. Various exhibitions bring these aims to life. The museum displays its own collections thematically. It hosts special exhibitions featuring artwork from other institutions. These exhibitions showcase a wide range of Japanese and international art. Traveling exhibitions of the museum’s collection extend its reach, offering more opportunities for art appreciation. The museum fosters discussion through lecture meetings and workshops. These events encourage public engagement and deeper understanding of art. Visitors can access art books in the reference room and explore the video library. The studios provide a space for creation. They offer year-round art courses in various disciplines. These include Japanese-style and Western-style painting, sculpture, craft, calligraphy, and printmaking. The museum provides an enriching experience. It invites visitors to not just observe but to actively participate in the world of art.