[From Jomon Pottery to Ukiyo-e] Kyoto University of the Arts Museum to Host "Manazashi to Enichi" Exhibition Starting June 24

Kyoto University of the Arts will host the "Manazashi to Enichi" (Gaze and Connection) exhibition at its on-campus museum, the Art Museum, from June 24 (Wed) to July 18 (Sat), 2026.

The museum's core collection includes Jomon pottery donated by poet Sazo Kon, Silk Road materials donated by archaeologist Namio Egami, Ukiyo-e prints by Kunichika Toyohara donated by the university's former president Naokichi Oe, and folk toys including Fushimi dolls.

In an age where all information is instantly optimized, this exhibition seeks to re-evaluate historical data through the perspectives and the "playful" spirit of contemporary artists, re-connecting rich, cross-temporal "bonds."

By creating a venue where non-systematic collections and modern expression intersect at a university, the exhibition links past assets to the new creations of the next generation.

■ Overview of the 2nd Art Museum Exhibition "Manazashi to Enichi"
Dates: June 24 (Wed) – July 18 (Sat), 2026
Venue: Kyoto University of the Arts, Art Museum
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (Last admission 16:40) *Closed on Sundays
Admission: Free
Organizer: Kyoto University of the Arts, Art Museum
Curator: Sachiko Kawakami (Artist / Lecturer, Dept. of Fine and Applied Arts, Kyoto University of the Arts)
Artists: Takuya Kumagai, Nao Tsukuda, Miki Murakami

〈Exhibition Events〉
July 4 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Gallery Talk: "Gaze and Connection - Dialogue on the Collection and Exhibited Works"
Speakers: Takuya Kumagai, Nao Tsukuda, Miki Murakami (Exhibiting artists), Toshiyuki Nakaie (Visual Design)
Guest: Ayumi Watanabe (Curator, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art)
Moderator: Sachiko Kawakami (Exhibition Curator)

July 18 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Closing Talk: "The Artful Mind and Play"
Speakers: Takuya Kumagai, Nao Tsukuda, Miki Murakami, Toshiyuki Nakaie
Guest: Aya Saito (Professor, Civilization Philosophy Institute, Kyoto University of the Arts)
Moderator: Sachiko Kawakami (Exhibition Curator)

■ From the Curator
The diverse materials in the Kyoto University of the Arts Museum's collection have varied origins and historical backgrounds, making them appear non-systematic at first glance. However, each piece reflects the intense passion of the collectors—their "curating eye." This exhibition treats the history of these materials as "bonds" (En) of fate and coincidence, re-connecting an organic archive for the modern era. As scattered points are linked like a constellation through "Gaze" and "En," a new narrative begins to emerge, where the "viewing eyes" of three young artists intersect with the "curating eyes" of the past.