Exhibitions and Events

Spectacular! Nagoya's Golden Era of Mosaic Murals
INAX MUSEUMS

Spectacular! Nagoya's Golden Era of Mosaic Murals

November 6 (Sat), 2021 ~ March 22 (Tue), 2022

A large-scale picture covers an entire wall. A closer look reveals it to be a mosaic mural, composed of countless ceramic tiles, pieces of glass, or small stones. As an architectural decoration, mosaic murals use dots of color like a pointillist painting, often in eye-catching compositions. Even so, they have an odd way of blending with everyday scenery.


In the days of rapid economic growth, mosaic murals bloomed in Nagoya and its surroundings. Examples are the outer wall of the former Maruei Department Store designed by architect Togo Murano, the Aichi Prefectural Office West Annex lobby by artist Rokuro Yabashi, and the mural in the Seto City Library by artist Tamiji Kitagawa. Many murals have been lost over the past half century as buildings have been rebuilt, but those surviving still now retain their original splendor.


This exhibition will feature murals created in Nagoya's golden era of mosaic murals from the late 1950s to 1970s. Photographs of 17 exquisite murals will be displayed along with 3 actual murals from that time. These latter include the ceiling mural (fragment) of the former Chunichi Building and two murals in the collection of INAX Museums--the lobby mural (fragment) of the former Hotel Nagoya Castle building and lobby mural (fragment) of the former Kagome Building, both of which will be shown for the first time, having been acquired in recent years. In every case, the murals astonish us with the beauty of their materials, their masterful handling of color, and their detailed handiwork.


The exhibition will offer a precious opportunity for contact with the rich world of mosaic murals-a fascinating aspect of Nagoya.


INAX MUSEUMS

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  • Village Hall, Nagoya Civic Hall Sky and Sea、br>Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
  • Village Hall, Nagoya Civic Hall Sky and Sea	Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
  • Seto City LibraryOriginal image: Tamiji Kitagawa
  • Chubu Nippon Building (former Chunichi Building) Feast of the Night Sky Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
  • Lobby, former Kagome Building TOMATO Original image: Tamiji Kitagawa
  • Mural fragment collected by the MuseumFormer Hotel Nagoya CastleDialogue between Day and Night Original image: Kazu Wakita, 1969
  • Permanent display of fragment restored and relocated by the Museum  Wall, Former Maruei Department Store  Design: T. Murano & Mori Associated Architects Office, 1956
  • Aichi Prefectural Office West Annex  Great Tree or The Expanse of Aichi,Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
  • Village Hall, Nagoya Civic Hall
    Sky and Sea、br>Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
  • Village Hall, Nagoya Civic Hall
    Sky and Sea
    Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
  • Seto City Library
    Original image: Tamiji Kitagawa
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
  • Chubu Nippon Building (former Chunichi Building)
    Feast of the Night Sky
    Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
  • Lobby, former Kagome Building
    TOMATO
    Original image: Tamiji Kitagawa
  • Mural fragment collected by the Museum
    Former Hotel Nagoya Castle
    Dialogue between Day and Night
    Original image: Kazu Wakita, 1969
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
  • Permanent display of fragment restored and relocated by the Museum
    Wall, Former Maruei Department Store
    Design: T. Murano & Mori Associated Architects Office, 1956
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
  • Aichi Prefectural Office West Annex
    Great Tree or The Expanse of Aichi,
    Original image: Rokuro Yabashi
    Photo: Kenji Masunaga
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