The Japanese Garden Traveling Exhibition from the Morikami Museum and Gardens

EXHIBITION

SPECIFICATIONS

PARTICIPATION FEE:

Call for pricing and information. Loan includes our donation of (125) special edition posters

EXHIBITION CONTENTS:

(100) vivid color, framed photographs with captions, wall text panels, media kit, and (125) donation posters

for use as new membership incentives

SPECIAL EVENTS:

ArtVision can arrange for a personal appearance for your VIP reception, guided gallery tour, or special educational workshops, community presentations and panel discussions. For event ideas contact ArtVision. (Additional fees apply)

The Japanese Garden

Nishi Hongan-ji Temple:

General View of the Garden

Momoyama Period (1573-1615)

Kyoto

The sumptuous garden adjacent to a building called the Dai-shoin at Nishi Hongan-ji is recognized as one of the most representative examples of Momoyama Period tastes in garden design. Like the building, the garden elements are said to have been transported here from the opulent Fushimi-Momoyama castle of Japan's great feudal lord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), known for his flamboyance. The vigorous use of rocks and especially the exotic sago palms seem to support this claim.

Formerly on loan to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland, Ohio

The Japanese garden represents an idealized view of nature--

an harmonious composition of natural elements designed to capture the essence of nature and the Japanese closeness to it. In the exhibition, The Japanese Garden, photographer Haruzo Ohashi has arranged the six fundamental styles--the pleasure boat, the stroll, contemplation, many pleasures, the tea and courtyard styles to coincide with Japanese history and the social changes it necessitated. Through 100 aesthetic images, we see how the new fashion of tea drinking, the popularization of Zen Buddhism by the military and, later, the emergence of an urban middle class influenced The Japanese Garden.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden:

Yatsuhashi Edo Period (1615-1868)

Kyoto

Zigzag bridges are charming accessories occasionally appearing in some later Japanese gardens. Most often they are rustic in character, planned to look as if hastily constructed as an expediency to crossing a stream or marsh in nature. Their purpose is to slow the visitor's pace in order to view the surroundings more leisurely.

The garden was originally laid out by Tokugawa Yorifusa (1603-1661), a son of the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu, and founder of the Mito branch of the family. Yorifusa's own son, Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1700), one of the most illustrious members of the Mito branch, later remodeled the garden, which was part of the family's Edo estate.

Saiho-ji Temple: View of the Lower Garden

Kamakura Period (1185-1392)

Kyoto

This garden has been greatly altered since Muso Soseki (1275-1351) designed it in the 14th century. Still, it is one of the most delightful gardens in the city of Kyoto regularly visited today. One of the earliest stroll gardens, it represents a departure from earlier gardens in that it was not intended to be viewed from a pleasure boat or a building interior. The difference from earlier times was brought about by the newly imported fashion of drinking tea, which put different demands on garden usage and design.

Nanzen-in Temple:

General View of the Garden

Kamakura Period (1185-1392)

Kyoto

Nanzen-in is one of twelve subordinate temples belonging to the monastery nanzen-ji in the wooded eastern hills of Kyoto. The site once served as the retreat of Emperor Kameyama (reigned 1259-1274) and is the oldest section of the monastery complex.

Photographs by Haruzo Ohashi, from the permanent collection of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens