"What is Important in Life Can Also Be Learned from Appreciating Art": How to Enjoy Life and Art Taught by the Director of the Yokohama Museum of Art
Yokohama Museum of Art Director Kuratani discusses fostering diversity and how art appreciation teaches essential life skills like observation and communication.Summary
The Yokohama Museum of Art, which reopened fully in February 2025 after extensive renovations, is being led by Director Kuratani. Leveraging her background in art criticism, she established "diversity" as the core mission upon taking the role during the pandemic and the closure period. Aiming to be an accessible space for all, especially families in the Yokohama area, the museum prioritized creating an open environment where visiting is not solely about viewing art; this included installing numerous original chairs in the entrance corridor to seamlessly connect with the public plaza. Kuratani suggests that art appreciation involves observing, verbalizing discoveries, and questioning the work, a process mirroring communication with past artists. She believes this process—observing, verbalizing, and sharing—cultivates the essential skills of understanding and accepting others, which are vital for navigating the modern era and fostering future innovation.
(Source：storyweb.jp)