Speaker

Katsuo Suzuki (Chief Curator, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)

About the Talk

Founded in 1952 as Japan’s first national art museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo focuses on collecting, researching, and exhibiting modern and contemporary Japanese art from the late 19th century to the present. This presentation will explore how the museum has developed the concept of “dialogue”—which has been at the core of its activities since its renovation in 2002—through specific exhibition examples. This has been an endeavor to critically reexamine “Japan,” “modernity,” and “fine art” from various perspectives.

Doors open at 17:45. Please note that in-person spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. 

About the speaker

Born in Tokyo, Japan. Received M.A. (Art History) from the University of Tokyo. Has worked at current museum since 1998, specializing in Japanese and Western modern art. Curatorial Projects include “Brazil: Body Nostalgia”(2004), “Okinawa Prismed: 1872-2008”(2008), “Experimental Ground 1950s”(2012), “Awakenings: Art and Society in Asia”(2018), “Takahata Isao: A Legend in Japanese Animation”(2019), “100 Years of Mingei: The Folk Crafts Movement”(2022) and “Opening Documents, Weaving Memories: A Special Exhibition Featuring Works from the Museum Collection”(2025). Lives and works in Tokyo.

Please note this talk will replace our usual Third Thursday Lecture for May.

To attend in person, please email sisjac@sainsbury-institute.org or call +44 (0) 1603 597507 to book your place. Zoom booking is available at the bottom of this page.