AFRICAN ARTMUSEUM

June 7 – October 1, 2018 (The second half of the exhibition begins from August 1, 2018)
ROYAL ART OF BENIN: The Nok culture prospered in the central Jos plateau from 5 th century B.C to 3 rd century A.C in Nigeria. In 9 th century, the sophisticated bronze-casting tradition of the Igbo Ukwu prospered in Niger Delta. The Ife culture which is known as only realistic sculpture in Africa appeared from between 10 and 15 th century.; In addition, the first Benin dynasty was established in 10 th century. Although internal conflicts occurred during the succession to the throne, Oranmiyan who was the great prince of Ife played a part to help establishing the second dynasty in 12 th century. Moreover, it prospered through out the southern Nigeria in 19 th century.
In 1897, British punitive forces attacked Benin city which was the capital of Benin kingdom. They completely destroyed a royal palace and took about 2,000 bronze and ivory artworks from there. After the subjugation, these artworks were spread out in Europe and U.S that leaded to the great royal art of Benin to be known internationally.; The art style of the Benin kingdom was passed on to the Yoruba people whose ancestor is the Ife people to the present. This exhibition introduces the royal art of Benin, the Nok culture, the Ife culture, and the Yoruba artworks that represent African art which astonished Europeans in 19 th century.; Nominal support: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, YBS Yamanashi Broadcast, UTY Yamanashi, Nihon Network Service, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shinbun, The Asahi Shinbun Yamanashi-prefecture, The Mainichi Daily News Yamanashi prefecture, The daily Yomiuri Yamanashi prefecture, Yatsugatake Journal, Yamanashi Shinpou, and FM Yatsugatake

April 1, - June 4, 2018
FASHION OF THE PEOPLE: Diverse native people live in the world. Each of them has a characteristic culture which influences to their fashions and ornaments that leads to create unique patterns and forms. This exhibition introduces artworks relating to the fashion of the native people in Africa, Oceania, Indonesia, Philippines, Himalaya, and Asia.; Nominal Support: Embassy of the Republic of Mali, Embassy of Burkina Faso, Embassy of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon, Embassy of the Republic of Ghana, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Australia Embassy, New Zealand Embassy, Embassy of Republic of the Philippines, Embassy of Republic of Indonesia, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, YBS Yamanashi Broadcast, UTY Yamanashi, Nihon Network Service, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shinbun, The Asahi Shinbun Yamanashi-prefecture, The Mainichi Daily News Yamanashi prefecture, The daily Yomiuri Yamanashi prefecture, Yatsugatake Journal, Yamanashi Shinpou, and FM Yatsugatake

September 28, - November 30, 2017
THE ETERNAL STATUE: African aesthetic is different from European aesthetic that realistic and well-ordered things are not considered “beauty”. Because of their important is in spiritual nature, largely deforming to express spirit and focusing to close up a necessary part are realistic and recognize as “beautify”. Statues are not exception that also represent African ethnic groups’ spirits and beliefs. Therefore, statues were made by various ethnic groups in Africa. Although the kinds of statues are varieties such as God, ancestor, human figures, and more, almost all of them are figures which divine spirits were summoned. Moreover, these were all created for a purpose of praying. This exhibition focuses on introducing African statues. Over several hundred years, each ethnic group selected forms and expressions uniquely derived from their roots. More and more their works of art were inspired by their spirit. Please enjoy the origins of their spiritual creation with their hopes of surviving.; Nominal Support: Embassy of the Republic of Mali, Embassy of Burkina Faso, Embassy of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, YBS Yamanashi Broadcast, UTY Yamanashi, Nihon Network Service, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shinbun, The Asahi Shinbun Yamanashi-prefecture, The Mainichi Daily News Yamanashi prefecture, The daily Yomiuri Yamanashi prefecture, Yatsugatake Journal, Yamanashi Shinpou, and FM Yatsugatake

June 1, - September 25, 2017 (The second half of the exhibition begins from August 1, 2017.)
HETEROGENEOUS ART OF AFRICA: Pursuing straight lines, circles, repetitive of the same shapes, realism like a photography were aesthetic sense in Europe after the ancient Greek era. However, African masks, tools, and statures which were initially the collection in the museum of ethnology captured young artists’ hearts in Paris in early 20th century. These were completely different from the European aesthetic sense that influenced them to create new forms, colors and concepts which leaded to “Cubism”. African forms give us interesting configurations, shapes, expressions, and material textures that attract people’s feelings and emotions. Over several hundred years, each ethnic group selected forms and expressions uniquely derived from their roots. More and more their works of art were inspired by their spirit and we too can experience their hopes of surviving, existing, and living. It is sometime difficult to determine what was a source to get an idea to create such interesting forms. This exhibition introduces mysterious forms.; Nominal Support: Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania, Embassy of Burkina Faso, Embassy of the Republic of Mali, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, YBS Yamanashi Broadcast, UTY Yamanashi, Nihon Network Service, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shinbun, The Asahi Shinbun Yamanashi-prefecture, The Mainichi Daily News Yamanashi prefecture, The daily Yomiuri Yamanashi prefecture, Yatsugatake Journal, Yamanashi Shinpou, and FM Yatsugatake

April 1, – May 29, 2017
FORMS OF SPIRITS: Various ethnic groups live in the world and each of them has an original creation mythology. Within this mythology, a diversity of spirits appears. Moreover, they have their own animist beliefs, which resulted in them performing rituals. Masks, textiles, and tools used for the rituals were created with each group’s own unique patterns and styles. This exhibition introduces artworks that are related to the people’s prayers from Africa, Oceania, Philippines, Indonesia, Himalaya, and Asia.; Nominal Support: Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Embassy of Burkina Faso, Embassy of the Republic of Mali, Australian Embassy, New Zealand Embassy, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nepal, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, YBS Yamanashi Broadcast, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shinbun, The Asahi Shinbun Yamanashi-prefecture, The Mainichi Daily News Yamanashi prefecture, The daily Yomiuri Yamanashi prefecture, Yatsugatake Journal, and FM Yatsugatake.