This exhibition presents approximately 250 original picture book illustrations by Sakai Komako. Sakai is a picture book artist from Hyogo Prefecture, who is popular for her unique style of delicately depicting scenes and animals and her poetic writings that resonate with her illustrations, as seen in her works of “Yorukuma” and “Friday’s Sugar.”

This is a series of open exhibitions that offers opportunities for artists to make their works public. Same as last year, it will be held while implementing thorough infection prevention measures against COVID-19. The guideline for applicants will be released in April. We are awaiting applications and the attendance of those associated with Hyogo.

This series aims to introduce remarkable artists to the public. This time, on the 13th edition, we will be featuring a Kobe-based artist Yoshimura Munehiro (1961– ). After 30 years of experimenting, Yoshimura has made traditional and classical portraits and landscape paintings his style, rather than pursuing trends or novelties. We hope you will enjoy his irreplaceable expression of beauty.

We came up with the idea of having visitors feel like they are on a “trip” at the museum. If going on a trip means leaving your everyday life and going somewhere away from where you are now, then how you feel and how you spend your time during a trip is similar to the experiences in a museum. This exhibition will present works selected with the image of a “trip within the museum” and a “journey through the artworks” in mind. The Permanent Exhibition Gallery 5, where the sculptures are usually displayed, and part of the Koiso Ryohei and Kanayama Heizo Memorial Rooms will also be used.

Motonaga Sadamasa (1922–2011, born in Mie Prefecture) is known worldwide as a leading artist of the Gutai Art Association. This exhibition, held on the 100th anniversary of his birth, focuses on the period when he relocated from Iga to Kobe and then to New York and introduces his works from the perspective of “a relocation is like a journey.” Displays include representative works from his early years as well as other works that had been rarely introduced before.

In the last fiscal year, the museum welcomed new “fellows” (works) that complement and expand the existing collection through donations and bequests. The “Re:Freshers – New Acquisitions” exhibition introduces these new collections. The “Microcosmos of Yoshihara Jiro” exhibition features donations from the fiscal year 2020 of sketches and other works by Yoshihara Jiro to explore the secrets of the artist’s creation 50 years after his death.

This annual exhibition started in 1989, allowing visitors to touch and enjoy the artwork. This time, items from the museum’s collection will be on display.

The “Selected Masterpieces” exhibition highlights carefully selected works from the museum’s collection. The “From Ming to Qing: Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving in the BAI Joteki Collection” exhibition introduces masterpieces of painting, calligraphy, and seal carving from the Ming and Qing dynasty, mainly from the Bai Joteki Collection.