Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area, a tourist destination, has been buffeted in recent years by the number of COVID-19 cases.
Many events that were held every year had to change their format or be canceled, but in autumn 2022, a “regular event” finally returned.
Yurin-so Villa Autumn Special Opening
“Yurin-so Villa,” the private residence of Ohara Magosaburo, founder of the Ohara Museum of Art, is a special space opened to the public only twice a year, in spring and autumn.
The title of the special opening, held for the first time in three years, was “Matisse: Light and Color.” I went to see it.
Photography is normally prohibited inside Yurin-so Villa. We were granted special permission to take photographs this time.
The information presented was current when this article was published in October 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Yurin-so Villa?
Yurin-so Villa was built in 1928 by Ohara Magosaburo, founder of the Ohara Museum of Art, for his frail wife.
It was designed by architect Yakushiji Kazue, who also worked on the main building of the Ohara Museum of Art and the former Kurashiki Honmachi Branch of Chugoku Bank (Shin-Kojimakan, provisional name).
The building blends Japanese and Western styles, and even to an untrained eye, its thoughtful details are evident throughout.
Autumn 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: “Matisse: Light and Color”
The building itself is well worth seeing, but each special opening of Yurin-so Villa also features a themed exhibition with artworks on display.
In autumn 2022, works by French painter Henri Matisse (1869–1954), known as the “magician of color,” were exhibited around the theme of light and color.
The reason “light” is a theme is connected to the “place” that is Yurin-so Villa.
Now, let’s take a look at the exhibition inside Yurin-so Villa.
The “Western-Style Room,” bathed in bright light
In the Western-style room, with its high ceiling and chandelier, the bright light streaming through the windows, together with its reflection on the floorboards, brings out the beauty of the room.
The “First-Floor Japanese-Style Room,” an open and tranquil space
The Japanese garden stretches out before you, creating an open feel, while the room as a whole is dimmer and more tranquil than the Western-style room.
The “Second-Floor Japanese-Style Room,” a bright space
Finally, the second floor. On the stairs, you can also get a close-up view of the green tiled roof.
Yurin-so Villa is also known as the “Green Palace.”
The second-floor Japanese-style room is a bright, open space with a sweeping view of Kurashiki River and its surroundings.
Matisse’s colorful illustrated book Jazz was on display.
In art museums, partitions are usually set up to prevent visitors from getting too close to the artworks.
However, since Yurin-so Villa was built as a private residence, there are no such barriers, so you can view the works as if they were paintings displayed in a home.
From the Writer
Chikako Takaoka, Chief Curator at the Ohara Museum of Art, spoke about the special opening of Yurin-so Villa as follows.
The autumn special exhibition at Yurin-so Villa is held from Friday, October 7, to Sunday, October 23, 2022.
When you visit, be sure to pay attention to the “light and color,” too.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Fall 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: “Matisse—Light, Color, and” Information
| Name | Fall 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: “Matisse—Light, Color, and” |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 7 (Fri) to October 23 (Sun), 2022 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. *Last admission at 3:30 p.m. *Open every day during the exhibition |
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | [Yurin-so Villa admission] Adults: ¥1,000 High school, junior high, and elementary school students: ¥500 [Combo ticket] *Admission to Yurin-so Villa and the Ohara Museum of Art Adults: ¥2,000 High school, junior high, and elementary school students: ¥1,000 |
| Website | Fall 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa: “Matisse—Light, Color, and” |
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At the museum, curators usually use dedicated lighting and carefully adjust the displays so that the qualities of the artworks can be conveyed.
However, we cannot do that at Yurin-so Villa. I think this is both a disadvantage and an advantage of Yurin-so Villa.
In autumn, as the sun gradually gets lower, the sunlight changes from moment to moment. Matisse himself placed great importance on “sunlight” in his art.
We created this exhibition because we thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the works of a painter of light and color during this season.