MUSUBI – HALF-CENTURY OF CARTIER IN JAPAN AND BEYOND: AN EVERLASTING DIALOGUE OF BEAUTY AND ART
HAPPENINGText: Victor Moreno
The Fondation Cartier, known as a laboratory of creation that pushes the boundaries of thought, includes retrospectives of Japanese exhibitions dedicated to Cartier since 1988. These exhibitions feature notable figures such as Issey Miyake, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Nobuyoshi Araki, Daido Moriyama, William Eggleston, and Rinko Kawauchi, along with immersive installations showcasing the works of Tabaimo, Tatsuo Miyajima, Daido Moriyama, and Takeshi Kitano. A central theme of this exhibition is to illustrate how Cartier has captured the spirit of the times while remaining true to its values, drawing inspiration from Japan’s vibrant creativity in architecture, design, and contemporary art. As the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain aptly puts it: “a never-ending conversation.”
© Cartier
The Fondation Cartier maintains long-term relationships with renowned Japanese photographers such as Nobuyoshi Araki, Daido Moriyama, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, featuring their works in numerous exhibitions and commissions. The exhibition showcases Hiroshi Sugimoto’s mathematical models (2004), Nobuyoshi Araki’s daily photograph series “Hi-Nikki,” (2016) and Daido Moriyama’s color photos of Tokyo, alongside a unique collaboration with American photographer William Eggleston and Rinko Kawauchi’s intimate slideshow “Cui-Cui,” (1999-2005) offering a poetic and timeless portrayal of everyday life.
© Cartier
It is fascinating and certainly offbeat to see how the work of a street photographer like Daido Moriyama is showcased by a luxury brand, revealing Cartier’s genuine interest in Japanese culture from different angles. Seen in Japan for the first time, Daido Moriyama’s slideshow “Dog and Mesh Tights” (2016), put together his most emblematic black-and-white works, projected on four jumbo screens mimicking two open books. Accompanying the visitor in its journey through the exhibition, Takeshi Kitano is presenting in this room a series of paintings, as an immersive invitation in its colorful and inventive universe.
© Cartier
The word “knot” has its origins in the Japanese mythology of “MUSUBI” (Musuhi or Musubi). In this context, “musu” means “to produce,” and “hi” refers to “the mysterious work of a divine spirit.” Thus, “MUSUBI” is interpreted to mean “the power of the divine spirit is produced by being bound together.” This celebration of Cartier’s 50th anniversary in Japan offers a unique perspective on the many stories that connect the Maison to this country.
MUSUBI – Half-Century of Cartier in Japan and Beyond: an Everlasting Dialogue of Beauty and Art
Date: June 12th – July 28th, 2024
Closed on Mondays (Except July 15th) and July 16th
Hours: 9:30 – 17:00 (Friday and Saturday till 19:00)
Place: Tokyo National Museum, Hyokeikan
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Organizers: Tokyo National Museum in collaboration with Cartier
Special collaboration: Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
Supported by Ambassade de France au Japon, Institut Français du Japon
https://www.cartier.jp
Text: Victor Moreno
