【Art Personnel Navi ~ From the Museums Affiliated with the Japan Association of Art Museums】③ Chiba City Museum of Art: Tomoko Matsuo and Kaori Tabei (Part 1) "30 Years Pursuing the Beauty of Chiba City Museum Through the Accumulation of Self-Planned Exhibitions"
Chiba City Museum of Art's Deputy Director Tomoko Matsuo and Curator Kaori Tabei discuss the museum's 30-year history of pursuing uniqueness and navigating the pandemic-era renovation.Summary
This is the first part of an interview with Tomoko Matsuo, Deputy Director, and Kaori Tabei, Curator, of the Chiba City Museum of Art, marking its 30th anniversary. Matsuo noted that since its opening in 1995 alongside institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the museum constantly focused on differentiation within the Tokyo metropolitan area. Their strategy involved avoiding the focus on modern art common in regional public museums; instead, they concentrated on a unique blend spanning from the Edo period to contemporary art. Crucially, they committed to "self-planned exhibitions," which required significant time and effort but allowed them to clearly establish the museum's identity by boldly featuring overlooked genres and artists. This accumulation of original exhibitions led to increased recognition, attracting donations and deposits, creating a virtuous cycle where a stronger collection bolstered future exhibition proposals. Matsuo also highlighted the significant role of past directors, such as the globally renowned art historians Tsuguo Tsuji and Tadashi Kobayashi, in boosting the museum's domestic and international credibility. The biggest crisis occurred in 2020 when the museum underwent an expansion and renewal just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing them to cancel major planned exhibitions dependent on international loans and hastily reorganize the opening show using only their permanent collection, ultimately reaffirming the strength of their holdings.
(Source：美術展ナビ)