The Ohara Museum of Art is a representative museum of Kurashiki.
While it is a familiar museum for locals, it has also become a standard tourist destination, featured in many guidebooks for the Bikan Historical Area.
Even if you think, "I want to visit at least once," you might feel unsure about how to enjoy a museum.
The Ohara Museum of Art offers programs that allow even beginners to enjoy art appreciation.
One of these initiatives is the newly held "Theatrical Appreciation Tour."
What kind of appreciation tour is it?
Curious about the content, I participated in a monitor tour held prior to the actual event.
In this article, I will report on that experience.
What is the Ohara Museum of Art?
The Ohara Museum of Art, established in 1930, is Japan's first private museum focused on Western art.
It is divided into the main building, branch, and Craft and Oriental Gallery, with approximately 3,000 items in its collection.
As of January 2023, it is open from 9 AM to 3 PM, excluding Mondays, which are closed. (For detailed opening hours, please check the Ohara Museum of Art website.)
Additionally, it features appreciation tours, including "Evening Tours" (reservation required) after closing.
The Ohara Museum of Art is enjoyable even for those who appreciate art freely.
If you want to enjoy it even more, participating in an appreciation tour is also recommended.
Theatrical Appreciation Tour: Actors Appear Between Explanations
The Theatrical Appreciation Tour is held in a new format, different from the traditional appreciation tours at the Ohara Museum of Art.
It is a 70-minute tour that combines a tour of the main building with explanations from the museum's guides and theatrical elements.
During the tour, two actors appear between the explanations given by the museum staff.
They portray Ohara Magosaburo and Kojima Torajiro.
They play essential figures in understanding the Ohara Museum of Art.
The stories told include the meeting between Ohara and Kojima and episodes about their collection of works.
The actors are Tōichirō Ariga from Dramatic Group Tenkiyohou and Ryō from Okayama Theater Group SKAT!!.
Through the engaging exchanges between the two, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Ohara Museum of Art and its collection.
Report on the Monitor Tour
During the monitor tour I participated in, I was able to experience the same flow as the actual Theatrical Appreciation Tour.
I will report on the impressions and thoughts that stood out to me.
For the overall flow and detailed content of the tour, I encourage you to participate in the Theatrical Appreciation Tour and experience it for yourself.
The Exchange Between Ohara Magosaburo and Kojima Torajiro
The highlight of the Theatrical Appreciation Tour is undoubtedly the exchange between the actors portraying Ohara Magosaburo and Kojima Torajiro.
If the two had been in front of a painting at the time of the museum's establishment, the conversations they had felt so real that I could imagine them actually happening.
For example, here is a moment in front of Kojima's representative work, "The Girl from Belgium in Kimono."
Ohara: "I think it was after you entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent that your painting changed dramatically."
(Omitted)
Kojima: "Creating in a new environment, with the air, climate, and light, everything I saw was fresh, and my brush never stopped."
Ohara: "Your representative work from that time was this 'The Girl from Belgium in Kimono,' wasn't it?"
This is an episode from when Ohara supported Kojima's study abroad in Europe, believing in his artistic talent.
Ohara engaged in many businesses and supported children who could not study due to financial reasons, under the belief that "profits gained from society should be returned to society."
Listening to the conversation, you can catch glimpses of Ohara and Kojima's personalities and the unique trust between the two.
I felt as if I had time-traveled back to when the Ohara Museum of Art was established.
I believe it was an experience that cannot be felt just by reading the introduction texts of the works or listening to explanations.
Explanations by the Ohara Museum of Art's Guide
The Theatrical Appreciation Tour is not a tour to watch a 70-minute play.
As you move through rooms 1 to 5 of the main building of the Ohara Museum of Art, the story progresses with the guide's explanations at its core.
The guide narrates the overall historical background from the meeting of Ohara and Kojima to the establishment of the Ohara Museum of Art, as well as the background of the collection of works.
Each episode performed by the actors is connected as a single story.
The guide can be seen as a narrator.
Since the roles of the actors and the guide are clearly separated, I was able to understand the history of the museum and its works in greater detail.
Including Time for Free Appreciation in 70 Minutes
The Theatrical Appreciation Tour is scheduled to last 70 minutes, including time for free appreciation.
After the explanations and the play, the time before moving to the next exhibition room allows for free viewing of the works.
Knowing the episodes of each work can help you feel closer to the pieces.
Take your time to appreciate the works while recalling the exchanges and explanations from the tour.
Of course, you can also appreciate the works in the same exhibition room.
Additionally, after the tour, it is recommended to view works in other exhibition rooms of the Ohara Museum of Art.
Be sure to enjoy your time at the Ohara Museum of Art with plenty of time to spare.
Conclusion
The Theatrical Appreciation Tour is characterized by the ability to enjoy both art explanations and theater.
Knowing the historical background and specific episodes of each work left a stronger impression than ever before.
The way I see the works has also changed a bit.
I found myself wanting to appreciate the works more deeply, making me look forward to my next visit to the Ohara Museum of Art.
During the monitor tour, Keita Ishii from the Ohara Museum of Art's Business Promotion Department shared the following:
The Ohara Museum of Art has been exploring new ways of appreciation.
In this tour, by having the two who created the Ohara Museum of Art come out and speak, you can immerse yourself in the worldview they lived in while appreciating the works.
This is an opportunity for those who are not familiar with the Ohara Museum of Art to get to know it well.
For those who are already familiar with the Ohara Museum of Art, it has become content that allows for a deeper understanding.
By knowing the roots, I hope you can feel closer to the Ohara Museum of Art.
In the future, they plan to increase the number of times this tour is held.
The Theatrical Appreciation Tour offers a new appreciation experience. Please consider participating at least once.
Articles About the Ohara Museum of Art
Ohara Museum of Art Theater-style Viewing Tour Data
| Name | Ohara Museum of Art Theater-style Viewing Tour |
|---|---|
| Date | February 4, 2023 (Saturday) ・6:00 PM – 7:10 PM * Reception starts 15 minutes before the performance in front of the main building. Please gather at the reception by 5 minutes before. * Capacity is 20 people per session (reservation required, first-come, first-served). Reception will close once capacity is reached. |
| Location | Ohara Museum of Art Main Building |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 5,000 yen (including tax) * Payment in cash on the day. * Same fee for elementary school students and above. * Preschool children are not allowed to participate. Reservations can be made by phone or email, providing your name, number of people, contact information, and preferred session. Phone: <a href="tel:086-422-0005">086-422-0005</a> (Reception hours 9 AM – 5 PM) Email address: <a href="mail:eigyo@ohara.or.jp">eigyo@ohara.or.jp</a> |
| Website | Ohara Museum of Art |
