Date: Sat., April 17, 2021 to Wed., March 30 2022

Support: Maruhachi Tent Co., Ltd., ENDO Lighting Corp., ARTERIOR Co., Ltd.

In association with: Embassy of France / Institut français du Japon

Exhibition cooperation: Hideyuki Nakayama Architecture, Izumi Okayasu Lighting Design Office

Claude Monet was one of the preeminent Impressionist painters. The Pola Museum of Art houses 19 of the artist’s works, more than any other institution in Japan. In the late 19th century, after moving from place to place along the Seine River basin, Monet arrived at what would be his final abode, located in Giverny on the outskirts of Paris. He continually painted landscapes all over France as well as travel destinations such as London and Venice. Throughout his career, Monet pursued the changing light, which conveys a wide variety of expressions depending on the season and time.

In this exhibition, we present a wealth of masterpieces from the museum collection, including Rouen Cathedral (1892) and Water Lily Pond (1899). The innovative display space, designed by the up-and-coming architect Hideyuki Nakayama, attempts to discover new allure in Monet’s works.

Hideyuki Nakayama Architect

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1972. Graduated from the Department of Architecture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1998 before completing a master’s course at the same school in 2000. After working at Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects, Nakayama established his own firm, Hideyuki Nakayama Architecture, in 2007. Since 2014, he has served as an associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. Major works include 2004, O House, Y Building, Y House, House and Road, Stone Island’s Stone, Curves and Chords, mitosaya botanical distillery, and Printmaking Studio / Frans Masereel Centrum (collaboration with LIST). Major awards include the SD Review 2004 Kajima Prize (2004), 23th Yoshioka Award (2007), Red Dot Design Award (2014), and the Japan Institute of Architects (JIA) Newcomer’s Award (2019).