Connecting with the Heart of Painting -You can watch the record of the 100th anniversary of Tama Zenshoen Painting on YouTube.

Lecturer Hajime Yoshikuni (Curator The National Hansen's Disease Museum)　

The National Hansen's Disease Museum will be holding a museum talk regarding the 2024 special exhibition "Connecting with the Heart of Painting - 100 Years of Tama Zenshoen Painting" (Date and time: March 2, 2024 - September 1, 2024).
Approximately 100 years ago, from October 31, 1923 to November 3, 1923, the First Painting Exhibition was held at the chapel of the First Ward Prefectural Zensei Hospital (currently Tama Tama Zenshoen). At the event, paintings by residents were exhibited for the first time since the hospital was established. Regarding this event, the works exhibited and the artists who painted them are unknown, but resident Shomin Yamamoto said, ``The painting event not only helped improve the lives of all the patients, but it also helped to inspire the future. It must have been a hint.In any case, it was a joyous event.'' Month).
In this museum talk, we will report on the ``1st Painting Exhibition'' as well as the results obtained from research for the special exhibition. I would like to trace the movement of painting from the dawn of the period, through the war, to the post-war period, and up to recent years, and interpret painting as a cultural movement that eventually expanded both inside and outside the gardens under the segregation policy.

from left)
・Cover cut by Keisuke Hikami “Yamazakura” (Vol. 31, No. 6, February 1950)
・Nobu Kuniyoshi “Cherry Blossoms” (oil on canvas, year of production unknown)
・Yoko Suzumura, T-shirt with a picture (sign pen on cloth, year of production unknown)
All owned by The National Hansen's Disease Museum

Outline of the event

[Date and time]
Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 14:00 to 15:30

[Holding method]
Venue participation (up to 140 people) / Distribution via Zoom webinar (up to 100 people)*Event has ended

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Report on 100 Years of Painting Tama Zenshoen

Lecturer: Hajime Yoshikuni (Curator The National Hansen's Disease Museum)

On the day of the event, 31 people participated at the venue and 53 people participated online.
This time, we will be talking about the museum talk about the current exhibition "Connecting with the Heart of Painting - 100 Years of Tama Zenshoen Painting" (Duration: March 2, 2024 - September 1, 2024).
Approximately 100 years ago, from October 31, 1923 to November 3, 1923, the First Painting Exhibition was held at the chapel of the First Ward Prefectural Zensei Hospital (currently Tama Tama Zenshoen). At the event, paintings by residents were exhibited for the first time since the hospital was established.
In this museum talk, we traced the 100-year history of the museum, from its early days, including the ``1st Painting Exhibition,'' to the wartime period, postwar period, and recent years.

From the questionnaire

• It must have been a very difficult job to create a complete history of 100 years based on the materials that were left behind, but it was amazing. I also learned a lot, such as the mention of people who were unable to draw and the existence of female artists, as well as the attitude of everyone trying to question what is entrusted to the act of drawing, and it was very realistic. It sounded like. thank you very much.
• I was moved to see the artists face themselves sincerely in the sanatorium. I was particularly moved by the self-portraits. I felt like my heart was being cleansed. I'm definitely going to go to the museum and take a look at it sometime soon. Thank you for your explanation.
• I thought it was a really great project. It felt like the personalities and emotions of the residents were being expressed in paintings and poems (as well as Yoshikuni's words) and were being imbued into our hearts over time. I strongly believed that creating a society where people respect and accept each other is not something that is taken for granted, but that it is necessary to constantly learn and communicate. I would like to express my sincere respect and gratitude to everyone at your museum for their hard work in preparation and management.
• It was a valuable story, allowing us to experience the works that have been painted over a 100-year history, as well as the characters and thoughts of the people who created them. I would like to go see the exhibition during the period.
• Mr. Yoshikuni's explanation was very easy to understand. Also, the content that follows "This is my impression" and "This is what I thought" that are interspersed here and there seems to have been discovered and felt during the research process, and was very impressive and memorable. It resonated.
• It was meaningful to learn about the relationship between art, sanatoriums, and care, which has not been treated as part of the mainstream of Japanese art history, centering on the activities of Keisuke Hikami. thank you very much.
• Although it was online, it was a realistic and easy-to-understand talk event, including a video of the participants talking while going around the exhibition rooms. thank you very much! I will be coming to see the exhibition in person soon!
• I also participated in the gallery talk the other day. Curator Yoshikuni's explanations for the residents were very easy to understand and touched my heart.
• I have already seen this special exhibition, but after hearing your talk, I want to see it again, especially Mr. Suzumura's postcards.
• I don't often get to go to Tokyo, so I was very happy to be able to talk to you today.
• The explanation was very easy to understand. I'm looking forward to future events.
• It was a very meaningful event. I wanted to go to The National Hansen's Disease Museum and see the actual exhibits.
• This story was very good. I would like to go directly to the museum. I want to feel directly the thoughts of those who wanted to paint from the bottom of their hearts.
• I would like to use this lecture as a starting point to think about various things in the future. I will also read Research bulletin.
• It was very meaningful because it is not easy to visit from afar.

… We have received many other answers. Thank you very much.

≪Contact us≫
The National Hansen's Disease Museum Museum Talker
mail: mt@nhdm.jp
*We are unable to respond on closed days or after 12:00 on the day of the event. Please contact us in advance.