At the heart of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area is the Ohara Museum of Art.
In July 2023, a new director was appointed for the first time in about 20 years.
The new director is Miura Atsushi, also professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo.
Here is a report on the press conference announcing the new director, held on June 28, 2023, just days before he took up the post.
The information presented here is current as of when this article was published in July 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Ohara Museum of Art
Established in 1930, the Ohara Museum of Art is Japan’s first private museum devoted primarily to Western art.
It comprises the Main Gallery, the Annex, and the Crafts and Oriental Art Gallery, and its collection numbers about 3,000 works.
Its wide-ranging collection includes Western works such as El Greco’s “The Annunciation” and Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies,” as well as modern and contemporary Japanese works and works by artists associated with the Mingei movement.
The museum also focuses on activities beyond its collection and exhibitions, including educational outreach and support for emerging artists.
The Ohara Museum of Art announced that a new director would take up the post in July 2023.
The new director is Miura Atsushi.
Takashina Shuji, who had served as director for more than 20 years since 2002, will become director of the newly established Ohara Institute of Art Research in April 2024.
As the Ohara Museum of Art reaches a major turning point, it held a press conference to announce its new director.
What were the thoughts of the new director, Miura, as he approached his appointment?
Profile of the new director, Miura
| Date | Career |
|---|---|
| May 20, 1957 | Born in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture |
| March 1976 | Graduated from Shimane Prefectural Oda High School |
| March 1981 | Graduated from the French Studies Division, Department of Liberal Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| March 1984 | Completed master’s program in art history, Graduate School of Humanities, University of Tokyo |
| October 1985 | Went to France as a French government scholarship student; enrolled in the doctoral program at Paris IV University |
| April 1989 | Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science |
| March 1990 | Completed doctoral coursework and withdrew from the Graduate School of Humanities, University of Tokyo |
| April 1990 | Full-time lecturer, Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, Japan Women’s University |
| April 1993 | Associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| April 1996 | Associate professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| January 1997 | Earned a doctorate from Paris IV University |
| April 2006 | Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| March 2023 | Retired from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| April 2023 | Visiting professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| June 2023 | Professor emeritus, University of Tokyo |
| July 2023 | Director of the Ohara Museum of Art |
“I confidently recommended Miura as the right person for the job” (outgoing director Takashina)
At the start of the press conference, outgoing director Takashina expressed his gratitude for having served as director and shared his thoughts about the new director, Miura.
“The Ohara Museum of Art has been a part of my life for more than 20 years.
I taught Miura, the new director, art history when he was at university.
He is now active as a faculty member and knows art history extremely well.
He also has experience curating exhibitions while serving as director of the Komaba Museum at the University of Tokyo.
I confidently recommended Miura as the right person to succeed me.
I believe he is the best possible candidate, and I am delighted that Miura is taking up the post of director.”
The keywords are “exchange and outreach” (new director Miura)
Next, new director Miura gave his remarks on taking up the post.
“It is a great honor to become director of the Ohara Museum of Art, a museum known throughout Japan.
The Ohara Museum of Art has a rich collection that extends beyond modern Western art to include modern and contemporary Japanese art and works by artists associated with the Mingei movement.
There are not many museums that hold such a wide range of works of such high quality.
It is a wonderful museum that has evolved from ‘Japan’s first Western art museum’ into a ‘comprehensive art museum.’
Since 2002, under Director Takashina, I have seen firsthand how the museum has focused on nurturing emerging artists and educational outreach.
Now that I am becoming director, I am thinking about what I can do for the Ohara Museum of Art.”
He went on to announce that he would focus on the keywords “outreach and exchange.”
“Outreach” through new special exhibitions and research activities
New director Miura says that by “outreach” he primarily means three things.
The first is outreach through new special exhibitions.
The Ohara Museum of Art has a rich permanent exhibition thanks to the breadth of its collection.
Although it has held themed exhibitions and special exhibitions such as the special opening of Yurin-so Villa, most exhibitions have focused on works in its own collection.
Taking the current situation into account, new director Miura says he would like to hold new exhibitions in collaboration with other museums.
For example, once we decide on a theme for an exhibition, we could borrow works from other museums and hold a show.
That would help visitors better understand the works and their historical context, and appreciate the breadth of the Ohara Museum of Art’s collection.
By collaborating with other museums to hold new kinds of exhibitions unlike those we have held before, I would like to share the appeal of the Ohara Museum of Art with audiences in Japan and abroad.
The second is outreach about research activities.
In April 2024, the Ohara Museum of Art will become part of the Ohara Institute of Art Research.
Details about the Ohara Institute of Art Research will be announced in the future.
New director Miura expressed his hope that “the curators will join the institute as researchers and share the results of their research.”
The third is outreach through education and research.
New director Miura is also a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and has contributed to education for many years.
Drawing on his knowledge and experience, he would like to try giving lectures and seminars for curators and general art enthusiasts.
He said he would like to explore new forms of educational outreach.
“Exchange” with Japan and overseas
He identified two areas for “exchange.”
The first is collaboration with other museums, which he also mentioned under “outreach.”
New director Miura says, “I want to make the Ohara Museum of Art, which is already known throughout Japan, even more nationally prominent.”
As a result of our outreach, I think we will be able to collaborate with other museums.
I would like to build cooperative relationships with other museums, for example by holding exhibitions that the Ohara Museum of Art could not put on by itself.
The second is exchange with researchers in Japan and abroad.
He said he would like to invite researchers from Japan and abroad to the Ohara Museum of Art and hold conferences, symposia, seminars, and other events.
Once the Ohara Institute of Art Research is established, he will work with it to create opportunities for learning.
He also shared his dream of one day “holding an international academic conference at the Ohara Museum of Art.”
To be honest, I may have too many goals.
I don’t know how many years it will take to achieve them, but I will work toward them one by one, exploring my own vision for the Ohara Museum of Art and contributing to its development.
Now is the time for new challenges
New director Miura spoke about his aspirations for the role.
The second half of the press conference included a question-and-answer session.
For example, he was asked about his memories and impressions of his first visit to the Ohara Museum of Art.
Miura said that as a student, he traveled from Shimane Prefecture because “if I was going to specialize in modern and contemporary French art history, I had to visit the Ohara Museum of Art.”
At the time, he said, he was simply overwhelmed by the breadth and quality of the works.
He said he felt it was almost a miracle that “such a high-caliber museum could be found in the Chugoku region.”
They also asked, “How do you view the current state of the Ohara Museum of Art with an eye to the post-pandemic era?”
And when asked, “What kind of presence would you like to become for the people of Okayama Prefecture and Kurashiki City?” the new director, Miura Atsushi, said:
“Now that we have experienced the spread of COVID-19, I believe we can turn adversity into an opportunity to take on new challenges.
While making use of our wonderful collection in our viewing programs and educational activities, I would like us to take another step outward.
That is what I identified as the key phrase: ‘sharing information and exchange.’
We aim to become known nationwide and, further, worldwide, and I hope to give back the results to Kurashiki.”
From the Writer
At the end of the press conference, Akane Ohara, the foundation’s representative director, gave some remarks.
“Thank you for gathering here today despite your busy schedules.
As a foundation, we intend to do everything we can to support new Director Miura, who has set the theme of ‘communication and exchange,’ and to contribute to the development of the Ohara Museum of Art.
We plan to make a separate announcement about the foundation’s future.
We appreciate your continued support.”
With new Director Miura at the helm, the Ohara Museum of Art is entering a time of new transformation.
As a fan of the Ohara Museum of Art, I look forward to seeing how it brings “communication and exchange” to life.
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