A trip to the National Distinctive Art Museum, and this time we introduce the Similarity Museum.
Art museum is born in the bank district of Otaru that once flourished
From the Meiji period to the early Showa era, Otaru's banking district, which was called “North Wall Street” and prospered as a hub for economic development, is still an area full of old and precious buildings. "Otaru Art Village" is newly born in such a place. In the village, three facilities are dotted, and one of them, the “Ayagori Museum of Art,” was created by renovating the “Old Hokkaido Takushoku Bank Otaru Branch,” which is designated as a city's historical building.
Remnants of the banking era are found in the two-floor stairwell that can be said to be the greatest feature of architecture. The corridor, located on the second floor, is for the anti-theft measures that follow the American bank architecture at that time. After the closing of the bank, there were frequent renovations with hotels, museums and hotels, but this time the “fowlery art museum” has been refurbished on the basis of Takugin's architecture. In part, it reflects the interior decoration of the time when it was said to be the most beautiful renovation, such as floor tiles and a balcony-bar staircase, representing the concept 'ship' of the famous architect Nigel Coats.
Yayoi Kishida "The Woman Standing on Black Earth" 1914 Otaru Art Village
The museum is operated by Nitori, a major furniture and interior maker in Japan. The similar bird chairman from Hokkaido has been saved as paintings since he was saved at a young age, so he deepens his knowledge of art and collects works, and wants to have the collection widely appreciated. About 300 items are on display in the 1st basement floor and 4 floors above the ground. The center of the collection is the works of an artist who has been active during the period when Otaru flourished, and the news of the art world is, among others, Yushi Kishida's "Woman standing on black soil". A visionary work that has been said to have been burned down for many years, found for the first time in 51 years, to the "Animal Museum of Art". A farmer who has made a heart feel full of vitality.
Unkai Yonehara "Wood carving Taketomi" Otaru Art Village storehouse
On the second floor, he displayed the Komura Takamura and his disciples wood carvings. A must-see is also a number of works that have revived wood carvings with the realistic representation of Takamura Mitsukun and "Taketori" by Umekai Unkai, the apprentice of Takakuni who is transmitted to the joy of the moment of finding Kaguya.
On the first floor, about 160 works by Art Nouveau artists are lined up.
The "Art Nouveau Art Deco Glass Gallery" on the basement floor has the "Lamp Forest" where various lamps are gathered, and there are many women who will stop by the fantastic sight and soak in appreciation. Spend a quiet moment in Otaru Art Village, a new landmark near Otaru Canal.
My motto is "I'm serious about being stupid", and I am having fun and having fun every day.
