Hello everyone! I'm OK Staff, and I'm in a good mood because I recently found a paper bag with a mysterious English sentence written on it at a convenience store near my house. I've always wanted to buy one, but I was too embarrassed to do so. I wonder who came up with the English sentences on paper bags. I love strings of English words that make no sense.
Well, this time I'd like to bring you some artistic items from my beloved Tokyo National Museum.
1. Haniwa Monkey
The lighting and the expression on the monkey's face surprised me a little, but it's nothing special - it's just a cute monkey. It looks like there's a little monkey riding on its back. If you look at it for a while, you can definitely see it. This is actually an Important Cultural Property. The exquisite expression on the monkey's face doesn't really give off any sense of its importance, so it's worth noting.
2. Silhouette Handsome
The silhouette is so cool. The face is a little different from what I expected. But the silhouette is so cool.
3. Elementary school students' summer vacation independent research projects
I love this piece. It's from ancient Egypt, but the key feature is the texture, which looks like colored paper clay. When I was in elementary school, there were some elementary school students who made pieces like this for their summer vacation independent research projects. I also like the way the pose doesn't give the impression that the person is rowing. They don't seem to be interested in rowing at all.
4. Elementary school summer vacation independent research 2
This is the second summer vacation independent study project for elementary school students. This time it's an oil clay piece. Since oil clay doesn't harden, I imagined an elementary school student being shocked when they brought their work to school and it lost its shape. When I'm tired, I find relief in these loose, ancient pieces. This is a wonderful piece. I love the exquisite tilt that makes it look like it might collapse at any moment.
5. Me watching a cat
Japanese art, painted on a hanging scroll. I know the expression of the woman in the background. I'm sure I make the same face when I look at cats. I know, it makes my face all loose and relaxed.
6. Modest Cymbals
They're playing a really small cymbal very quietly. It probably doesn't make any sound, but it's cute, so that's fine. I don't know if it's a cymbal or not.
7. A scene from a family
It's a cool entrance, like a hero from a Sentai series. The guy in the middle is especially good. He's posing like a child who won't listen, waving his hands at his mother. The one on the right is probably the mother. He looks like he's scolding his disobedient child, telling him to stop. The one on the left is the father. He's gazing off into the distance, pretending not to notice, as if he has nothing to do with it.
8. Mushrooms
These are mushrooms. They're so cute. They're lying close together. I love eating mushrooms and looking at them. The king oyster mushrooms in the pack look like living creatures and are so cute. I think these are nameko mushrooms. They're on display as netsuke.
9. Chopsticks
The last thing I'd like to introduce are chopsticks. I was impressed by how carefully the chopsticks were displayed. "Look! They're chopsticks!" I couldn't help but say to the child who was with me. They're nice chopsticks. They really deserve to be called chopsticks.
So, what did you think of the artistic objects we showed you today? I love looking at the works and thinking about them. I urge you to go and check out the permanent exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum! Until next time!