Kyosai: The israel goldman collection, royal academy of arts
2022
Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-1889) was one of the most exciting Japanese painters of the 19th century. Witty, energetic and imaginative, his art continues to influence numerous artistic styles today, from manga to tattoo art. Hayatsu Architects was commissioned by Royal Academy of Arts to design the exhibition to showcase over 100 paintings from Israel Goldman collection.
The traditional Japanese Tokonoma alcove typology has been interpreted with a contemporary language and materials, creating an arcade of display cases resembling the nearby Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly. The cases incorporate Sukiya proportions intending to bring authentic Japanese spatial experience when viewing the artwork.
The fragile artwork are protected behind the 10 mm thick perspex, framed in English beech wood. The corner of the cases are rounded to provide a soft backdrop for the scrolls. The beech frame is also rounded to continue the softness in a micro scale.
By bending the sheet material the cases became self standing, providing enough rigidity without having a sub-frame, minimising the amount of material required. With a close collaboration with a maker in Somerset, the production of the cases was streamlined, achieving an efficient and economical delivery whilst maintaining the highest quality.
The gallery walls were entirely painted in a dark charcoal mix paint unevenly, in order to recreate a sooted traditional Japanese Minka house interior: the mysterious and enigmatic backdrop where Kyosai’s mythical creatures would inhabit happily during night after the gallery is closed.
Photos by Max Creasy
Team
Hayatsu Architects (Takeshi Hayatsu, Quentin Martin, Tim Webster)
Main contractor: William Floyd Maclean
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