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Japan Today
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Andy Warhol in Tottori? Inside Japan's bold new prefectural art museum
The Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art is located within walking distance of other local sightseeing destinations such as the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum and the Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouse district. By Laura Payne Renowned for picturesque sand dunes, laid-back hot springs resorts, the hometowns of popular manga artists and one of western Japan's highest mountains, Tottori (Japan's least-populated prefecture) is a true hidden gem that offers an escape from major urban centers. On March 30, 2025, the small city of Kurayoshi established one more local attraction with the opening of the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art. Even prior to its opening, this museum drew national attention. Tottori is one of the last prefectures in Japan to establish its own public art museum. Moreover, debate arose when a decision to acquire multiple pieces by Andy Warhol cost the prefecture over ¥300 million (about US$2.1 million). As with all new openings, questions now circulate about how the museum will live up to its goals — which include becoming a source of local pride, generating 'new values' while sharing old ones and creating space where people of diverse perspectives can gather to admire beauty. The museum building itself and the inaugural exhibits offer insight as to how this facility will proceed. How Tottori built its bold new museum A gallery talk featuring Andy Warhol's 'Brillo Boxes,' 'A Set of Six Self Portraits,' canvases, and a cast of 'Campbell's Soup Cans.' Image: Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art The regional capital of Tottori City has been home to a public museum since 1972, displaying exhibits of history, nature and art among other themes. The new Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art is an offshoot of this original institution that provides potential for expanded art education programs as well as increased space for display and storage. Work to establish this art museum began in 2014, and some of the facility's most notable challenges appeared only a few years before its opening. In 2022, Tottori's prefectural government acquired five of Andy Warhol's 'Brillo Box' sculptures and one three-dimensional cast of Warhol's 'Campbell's Soup Cans' for the museum. Warhol is known to have visited Japan twice during his lifetime and produced sketches of Kyoto in the 1950s. However, only a handful of Japanese institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) have collected works by Warhol. The Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art's decision to acquire multiple Warhols drew mixed reactions from local residents. Some have expressed excitement at the chance to see Warhol's art in Tottori. Others, meanwhile, have asserted that the acquisition's price tag of over ¥300 million was too high. In response, the art museum has hosted explanatory events regarding the artworks and has set up a visitors' survey to continue gathering opinions. Only time will tell what the Warhols can ultimately contribute. Global icons, local pride The craft of Kurayoshi kasuri is about two centuries old, and nowadays these textiles can be used to make everything from coasters to kimono. Image: Laura Payne Looking at the now-completed art museum's floor map, one notices that the Prefectural Gallery is located next to the main entrance. This hint that local artists have a prominent place in the museum becomes a clear fact as one explores further. On opening day, one of the five Collection Galleries featured displays of Kurayoshi kasuri (indigo-dyed textiles) — a homegrown craft so highly prized that multiple local sightseeing activities outside the art museum center around admiring it. The inaugural display in the Special Exhibition space, meanwhile, featured international artists such as Andy Warhol alongside Japanese artists such as Shoji Ueda — a surrealist photographer and Tottori native. This special exhibition, known as 'Art of the Real: Transcendent Expression from Jakuchu to Warhol and Richter,' will be available for viewing until June 15, 2025. Upcoming temporary exhibits will continue to feature international artists and figures from Tottori such as Shigeru Mizuki — a manga artist best known for depicting yokai (creatures from traditional Japanese folklore) in the series 'Gegege no Kitaro.' Other notable features present throughout the opening exhibits were written English explanations and other multilingual resources — including a smartphone audio guide for the 'Art of the Real' display. Museum guide pamphlets were also available in languages such as English, Korean and Chinese. In short, if one visits the art museum intending to see a globally-known artist, they will inevitably become acquainted with local household names as well. A place for everyone The museum's third floor terrace features sculptures, seating and a view of the surrounding city. It is free for anyone to enter. Image: Laura Payne Multiple sections of the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art do not require an admission ticket for access. These include the museum shop, cafe, outdoor terraces and a kids' space — which features a family restroom, nursing room and a small play area. Meanwhile, studios, a lecture hall and other open spaces plan to feature events and hands-on activities throughout the year (Admission may not be required to join these but separate fees can apply). This layout ensures that the museum can be a community gathering place as well as a collection of galleries. Whether you are a local resident meeting friends for coffee or a traveler who wants to enjoy a terrace view of the city and shop for souvenirs, there is space for you at the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art. Museum access and information Kurayoshi station is one transportation hub that connects Tottori Prefecture to major cities. Yonago Airport or Tottori Airport are other popular access points. Image: dekoboko?Pixta The city of Kurayoshi is directly accessible from Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe via the Super Hakuto Limited Express. Local and express trains on the San'in main line also provide access from nearby cities such as Matsue, Yonago and Tottori City. After disembarking at Kurayoshi station, the art museum is accessible in about ten minutes by taxi or local bus (stop at Tottori Kenritsu Bijutsukan-mae). The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is regularly closed on Mondays (or the Tuesday following a national holiday). Admission to the permanent collections for adults is ¥400. Discounts are available for university students and visitors aged 70 or older. Students of high school age or younger are admitted for free. Admission prices for special exhibitions and activities vary. Tottori's art future Tottori Prefecture carries a close connection to visual arts as the birthplace of multiple figures who have gained acclaim in Japan and beyond. From now on, the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art joins the ranks of other local museums as a place where visitors and locals alike can find inspiration in this connection. © Japan Today
New York Times
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
An Original Warhol, Carved From Potatoes
In 1962, Andy Warhol, one of the 20th-century's pre-eminent figures in Pop Art, produced some of what now are considered his signature works: 'Gold Marilyn Monroe.' 'Marilyn Diptych.' 'Campbell's Soup Cans.' Not as famous: A potato-print promotional poster for The New York Times. Though Warhol may be better known for his fine art, he was also an acclaimed commercial illustrator. In the mid-to-late 1950s, he created advertisements for I. Miller, a high-end women's footwear company, many of which appeared weekly in The Times. In 1962, Louis Silverstein, then the corporate art director for The Times (he'd become the newspaper's art director in 1970) commissioned Warhol to create a promotional poster. The poster would be mailed to advertisers to persuade them to buy space in an upcoming special Travel section, the 'Winter Vacation Supplement.' (It was a particularly notable era of advertisements at The Times; there was also a series by the artist Tomi Ungerer, as well as the 'I Got My Job Through The New York Times' campaign.) Text on the Warhol poster touted The Times as 'America's biggest and best-read vacation news and advertising medium.' At 33 by 21½ inches, the poster accommodated 11 illustrations, including an anthropomorphic sun, a school of fish, an ice skate, a woman sunbathing and a man playing tennis. The original poster is stored in a flat file cabinet in the Morgue, The Times's underground repository of archival materials. A framed copy is there, too, on display. To make the image, Warhol used potato stamps. He first carved each illustration into the face of a sliced potato, which was then dipped in ink and stamped onto paper, according to pages from an unpublished manuscript by Silverstein about art and graphics at The Times, which is also stored in the Morgue. Sounds like a column for another day.
Telegraph
27-01-2025
- Telegraph
The best culture, views and food to enjoy in Pennsylvania
There's a strong case to be made for Pennsylvania as the great American getaway. Here you can combine the character-packed and historic urban energy of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with side helpings of small, quaint towns and gorgeous mountains and lakes in between. It's a place where you'll seamlessly switch from heavyweight art museums to scenic train journeys through state parks, and award-winning restaurants to dogsledding through highlands. Variety is the state's secret ingredient. Arts and culture Philadelphia has a phenomenal collection of museums, with the internationally renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art being the headline act. Nearby, the Barnes Foundation displays masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Cezanne and Van Gogh in eccentric, coordinated 'ensembles'. Find beauty in every stroke at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Credit : Philadelphia Museum of Art To the west, Pittsburgh matches Philadelphia's cultural offerings with the six-storey Andy Warhol Museum. The museum does more than just display Warhol's famous artworks, such as Campbell's Soup Cans, but also explores the artist's life, philosophies, media ventures and global impact. Between the state's two big cities, significant historical and cultural attractions include Civil War sites, living history museums and heritage mansions that are now open to visitors. One of the most notable of the latter is the Asa Packer Mansion in the town of Jim Thorpe. A grand Italian-style villa built for a railroad magnate in 1861, this National Historic Landmark retains its sumptuous Victorian furniture and fittings. The great outdoors Asa Packer had a significant hand in developing the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, one of America's most beautiful train rides. In a region known as Pennsylvania's Little Switzerland, diesel engines pull vintage carriages on a 16-mile round trip across bridges and through the mountain scenery from Jim Thorpe to Lehigh Gorge State Park. Explore the breathtaking Lehigh Gorge by train Credit : Shutterstock This state park is one of many across Pennsylvania, each offering something slightly different. The Cherry Springs State Park in northern Pennsylvania is best known for its handsome cherry trees, but it is increasingly a go-to spot for stargazers. The dark skies above the park make it an ideal place for observing the majesty of the Milky Way. For celestial novices, Potter County Stargazing Tours runs specialist, astronomer-guided nighttime tours. Stargazing at its finest — Milky Way magic from Cherry Springs State Park Credit : Shutterstock In southwestern Pennsylvania, the Laurel Highlands region plays host to several state parks and forests, as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. Hiking and mountain biking trails combine with trout-fishing lakes, campgrounds and whitewater rafting. Laurel Highlands River Tours offers gentle, family-friendly paddling runs, as well as more adventurous trips tackling Class III and IV rapids. Being outdoors doesn't mean compromising on comforts and conveniences – there are several luxurious resorts here. Nemacolin near Farmington stands out for its sheer range of offerings. Guests can stay in a chateau, a Tudor-style lodge or an adults-only Art Deco oasis, before tackling activities such as ice skating, dogsledding, high rope adventures or golf on a championship-level course. Food and drink All that action can make you hungry. Fortunately, Pennsylvania's not just a fantastic place to eat, but a fascinating one. High-quality local produce mixes with bold ideas across the state to deliver a culinary experience like no other. In Kennett Square – known as the mushroom capital of the world – Talula's Table has a reputation as one of the toughest reservations to secure in the country. This is partly because there are just two tables, but mainly because its ultra-seasonal tasting menus show off the best of the surrounding area's stellar produce. Don't fret if you can't get a table, however – by day the restaurant acts as a more-accessible market and café. In Philadelphia, the city's diverse culinary offerings are on display at Reading Terminal Market, where dozens of specialist stalls congregate, serving up everything from roast pork sandwiches to ice cream to the city's famous cheesesteaks. There's also an excellent James Beard Award-winning multicultural restaurant scene, with Kalaya being one of its main attractions. Its authentic southern Thai food in an impressive warehouse setting is made for sharing with a group. A feast of bold flavours and vibrant dishes from southern Thailand awaits for you at Kalaya Credit : Mike Prince In Pittsburgh, food tours through the Strip district take in family-run bakeries, Italian meat specialists and passionate pierogi-makers. Meanwhile, the much-lauded Apteka has put a plant-based spin on traditional Eastern European favourites, and Café on the Corner acts as a non-profit training ground for local would-be chefs while serving comforting southern cuisine. The diversity of flavours is what makes Pennsylvania special – and that extends far beyond the dinner plate. The great American getaway With direct flights from the UK to both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, weaving around Pennsylvania couldn't be easier. Start your journey at
