Nara Prefectural Museum of Art Gallery Project: 'Contemporary Artists Connected to Nara – The Light You Can Feel: Michimichi Miwata'

As part of its Heisei 8 gallery program 'Contemporary Artists Connected to Nara,' the Nara Prefectural Museum of Art will feature Michimichi Miwata (born 1966 in Gunma Prefecture, currently residing there), a blind sculptor.

Miwata studied conservation and restoration techniques at the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts, completing a replica of the statue of Jōgen Shōnin at Tōdai-ji's Shunjō-dō as his graduation project. He has also created statues such as that of Bodaisen'na at Tōdai-ji in 2002, drawing deeply from Nara's Buddhist culture. As a sculptor, he is known for applying traditional Buddhist statue-making techniques to express everyday life through wood carving, with a strong emphasis on rootedness and exploring his immediate surroundings as the core of his practice. Although his vision began deteriorating in his late 30s due to retinitis pigmentosa, leading to total blindness in his early 50s, he now creates works solely through the sense of touch using clay and holds exhibitions designed to be experienced through touch.

In recent years, driven by the desire to 'visit museums even after losing sight,' he founded the nonprofit organization Menoki, continuing efforts to connect people with visual impairments to art.

This exhibition will introduce Miwata's artistic expression and activities through three segments: an exhibition centered on his new work 'Presence of Light – Kōmyō Kannon,' inspired by Empress Kōmyō; a 'Tactile Viewing Panel Experience Exhibition' where visitors can touch and appreciate the works; and the 'Tactile Appreciation Lab,' where the artist will reside and create works publicly.

(Admission) Free

(Opening Hours) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)

(Closing Days) Mondays (except July 20, a national holiday, which will be open), July 21 (Tuesday)

〈Related Events〉

■ Artist Talk

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Registration from 1:30 PM)

Speakers: Michimichi Miwata (Exhibiting Artist), Fumifumi Sako (Elder of Tōdai-ji), Satoshi Yabuuchi (Sculptor, Director of this museum)

Venue: Lecture Room

Capacity: 60 people (No reservation required, free admission. Please gather at the venue on the day.)

■ Touching the World of Forms with Words – Workshop: 'Osotonēko' Tactile Appreciation

Experience the tactile panel 'Osotonēko' with Michimichi Miwata. Deepen your appreciation of sculptural art through fingertip sensation and words.

Date: Sunday, June 28

Session 1: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Registration from 9:45 AM)

Session 2: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Registration from 1:45 PM)

Speakers: Michimichi Miwata (Exhibiting Artist), Toshihiro Fukunishi (Representative Director, Menoki Association), Mayumi Akimoto (Jins Co., Ltd.)

Venue: Lecture Room

Capacity: 16 people per session (Advance registration required, first-come, first-served, free admission)

■ Touch-and-Enjoy Art Tour for the Blind, Visually Impaired, and Sighted at Nara Prefectural Museum of Art

Guided by Michimichi Miwata, touch exhibited works while engaging in dialogue to appreciate them.

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)

Guides: Michimichi Miwata (Exhibiting Artist), Masami Yamamoto (Curator, this museum)

Venue: Lecture Room

Capacity: 15 people (Advance registration required, first-come, first-served, free admission)

* Approximately 5 participants with visual impairments and 10 without

Cooperation: Nara Prefectural Center for Support of Artists with Disabilities

■ Public Creation

Dates: Wednesday, July 22; Wednesday, July 29; Wednesday, August 5; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Venue: Tactile Appreciation Lab

* Details will be posted on the museum's official website as they become available.

〈Collaborative Project〉

Exhibition: 'Memory of Light, Beyond Touch – Trio Exhibition by Michimichi Miwata, Satoshi Yabuuchi, and Osamu Yamada'

Content: A tactile exhibition featuring sculptures and 3D replicas of cultural properties by Michimichi Miwata, Satoshi Yabuuchi, and Osamu Yamada (Nara Prefectural University). Together, we explore what is needed to appreciate Japan's forms of prayer beyond the presence or absence of disability.

Dates: Saturday, July 4 – Sunday, July 12, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Until 4:00 PM on the final day)

Admission: Free

Venue: Conference Room A, Kinshō Hall, Tōdai-ji Comprehensive Cultural Center

Organizer: Menoki Association