Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

To have an artist in residence is not uncommon amongst the curatorial community, but to have 10 might be construed as somewhat lavish. Step forward Tokyo’s Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, where until November 18th you can see the combined efforts of 10 artists from countries as diverse as Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Afghanistan and Singapore, who were each given a three-month residency in Japan between the years 2007 and 2011.

Now, after being invited back to Tokyo as a group to reflect on their work, as well as the common theme of their experiences living in Japan and how it has affected their creativity, the artists’ collective exhibition Home Again offers a fascinating insight into how foreign customs, language, religion and even food influence and affect us.

From the intricately detailed drawings of India's Minam Apan, inspired by the famous dog statue of Hichiko near Shibuya Station, to Indonesian artist Syagini Ratnawulan's white pillow stitched with her own hair and commemorating the earthquake of 2011, the mediums on show are as diverse as the artists themselves, including photography, installation and sculpture.
 
And it’s not just the exhibition that’s a draw. Founded in 1979 and set in what was originally the private home and estate of tycoon Kunzio Hara, the Jin Watanabe-designed early Showa era house with its 1930s European modernist elements is a treat in itself, along with its courtyard cafe d’art and its menus that are modified to reflect the museum’s exhibitions. So now you can have your art, and eat it too.