Keio Museum Commons

What are ‘archaeological sites’? Generally, an archaeological site is any place where traces of people's activities from the historical past exist, most of which are under the ground. Therefore, excavations are necessary to reveal the contents of these archaeological sites. When Keio University built the Keio Museum Commons (KeMCo), it excavated the site to preserve the records and artifacts at risk of being destroyed during construction. The excavation was fruitful, producing various traces from the Edo period to the Jomon period among other findings. This, however, does not mean that all traces in the area were unearthed. For example, traces of natural phenomena and the modern period were not covered. This brings into focus that excavation is, in fact, an act of selecting traces, which dictates how we construct the ‘archaeological site’ and the ‘history’ told there. This exhibition highlights the results of what was – and wasn’t – selected. Dismantling the framework which constructs archaeological sites is an excellent opportunity for participants to question the status of ‘archaeological sites’ and ‘history’.

Hokusai and Kuniyoshi: two 19th century ukiyo-e artists from Edo whose names often appear alongside each other in textbooks, but who also shared a very real connection.   Hokusai, who became an independent artist after studying at the Katsukawa school that KATSUKAWA Shunshō began, branched out and absorbed various styles, eventually creating his own large artistic association known as the Katsushika School (Hokusai School). Meanwhile, Kuniyoshi was a second-generation student taught in the style of UTAGAWA Toyoharu, a contemporary rival of Hokusai’s teacher, Shunshō. Both Utagawa and Hiroshige, as members of this same school of artists, were some of Hokusai’s favorite competitors. However, according to stories from the time, Kuniyoshi approached Hokusai of his own accord out of respect for him as an elder artist but Hokusai, for his part, refused any sort of intimate association due to the former’s artistic lineage.   This exhibition of prints from Keio’s Seiichirō Takahashi Ukiyo-e Collection hopes to provide a space for visitors to once again be awed by the eccentricities and expressions that set Hokusai and Kuniyoshi apart from their peers and encapsulated their expertise as ukiyo-e masters. In addition, this exhibition will showcase unpublished works and never-before-seen sketches that highlight the dynamic brushwork from these two artists and their pupils.   With so many incredible pieces on display, we anticipate that visitors will find it hard to mask their excitement as they admire the works of these immensely skilled artists. We invite you to stop by, take your time, and enjoy the show!

We would like to introduce the symposium Organised by Keio University Art Center. Please join us. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   The Ambarvalia Festival to commemorate the birth of Junzaburo Nishiwaki has been held annually in January since 2012. As part of this year’s event, a symposium will be held taking as its theme “Junzaburo Nishiwaki and Femininity.” What is at the root of the genderless expressions that run throughout Nishiwaki’s work? We will welcome Masayo Koike, a leading contemporary poet, and Mayumi Torii, a scholar who excavated the poet Chika Sagawa from historical obscurity, to focus on the heretofore overlooked “femininity” found in Nishiwaki’s poetry.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We would like to introduce the workshops hosted by Keio University Art Center. Please join us. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   The ordinary scenery of daily life takes on a completely different profile when one rediscovers cultural assets which you are unaware. Although Minato Ward is home to a variety of valuable outdoor sculptures and architecture, their existence is often forgotten in the course of daily life, and at the same time, the face of the city fades away. In this tour-style workshop, participants will appreciate the cultural assets scattered throughout the city of Minato Ward by viewing the works with sculpture and architecture specialists, and explore the true nature and charm of an area rich in cultural assets.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KeMCo  will be closed for winter break during the following periods: Periods: From Wednesday, December 28 until Thursday, January 5.   We will not be able to respond to your inquiries during the above periods. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

We would like to introduce Art Kaiave Material Exhibition XXIV. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Following a donation in 2012 of materials related to Nishiwaki by Toshikazu Niikura (then Professor Emeritus, Meiji Gakuin University, and a scholar of English-language literature) the Keio University Art Center has maintained and managed the Junzaburo Nishiwaki Collection as an archive. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Nishiwaki’s passing and to highlight his creative process, the Art Center has put together “Wandering with Flora,” named so for how the poet would take long walks and be inspired to create poetic worlds from the wildflowers that lined his path. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–  

We would like to introduce Keio University Mita Campus Architecture Open Day. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Have you ever thought about the architecture around you? You see lots of architecture everyday: Houses you pass by, crowded stations, and your school… How about taking a little time to view them? Keio University has buildings which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Did you know that some buildings at Keio were built before the war? Or, do you know who designed the library where you study and borrow books? The Keio University Art Center has organized this Architecture Open Day to introduce the architecture on Mita Campus, including the Mita Public Speaking Hall (Mita Enzetsu-kan, built 1875) and the old “Noguchi Room” (Shin Banraisha, built 1951/2005) which are usually not open to the public. Participation is free and is open to the general public. They will also be given a map with explanations of the important sculptural and historical features of Keio. We hope people will enjoy being given free rein to roam the grounds of Keio with a map in-hand.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photo by: Ryota Atarashi

The year 2023 is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.   To mark the beginning of the New Year, this exhibition introduces the rabbits hidden among the diverse collections of Keio University — from the familiar tales with rabbits, to objects that makes you wonder "is this really a rabbit?" We hope that you will visit this exhibition to delight in the depictions of rabbits from throughout history and in a wide range of media.   In cooperation with the Izumi Kyoka Kinenkan Museum, the exhibition introduces the rabbit collection of Kyoka Izumi, a novelist who was known for his love of rabbits, as well as works by members of his circle of friends, which they dubbed the “Nines Club”（“Ku-Ku-Ku Kai”）. This group included several artists, such as Kiyokata Kaburaki, Settai Komura, and Sabrosuke Okada, in addition to the authors Takitaro Minakami and Mantaro Kubota, who were both graduates of Keio University.   It is our hope that this exhibition provides visitors with an opportunity to experience the breadth of the Keio University collection through the lens of the interaction between Kyoka and his circle of friends.

Our first exhibition focused on Maki’s architectural creations at Mita (February 2021), and sought to give insight into the nature of the environments he was endeavoring to create on campus. This work was oriented by the concept of “oku” (inwardness), a theory on the usage of space which he had long espoused. This, the second Art Center exhibition to focus on Maki, will feature the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC), the design for which he is almost entirely responsible.