Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art

Have few hours to spare before my flight and this is a great place to check out what’s exhibiting. There’s two exhibitions and I went for zen gallery. Showcasing Japanese art pieces from 14th century zen temples and its lineage to 2,500 years of Buddhism transmission from India to China and then Japan. Really fortunate to be able to see these fine masterpieces. Parking at nearby Big Shine 88 multistory carpark. Museum ticket for the Zen gallery for adult was ¥1,800.

One of my favorite art museums of all time. The way it was organized and curated was so open yet with distinctive areas to gravitate toward. I absolutely loved the installation by glass artist Aoki Mika. Couldn’t stop crying while walking through. “The Aquarium of Life and Death”. The best part was the seating area on the second floor where you could buy a coffee and sit in front of the windows overlooking the park and the sky and watch the light move across the buildings and the wind and the snow. And everyone else is sitting quietly doing the same. A very affordable and unique afternoon.

The show, master artist Kunioshi, was great but from the 1800’s. Hardly modern art. Other show on artist books/folios was modern in the sense of French impressionists and rather poor selection of printed material though interesting from an historical perspective. They had some beautiful glass works in the new Aquisitions area. Need to show more of that.

the current livre d’artiste & art deco glass exhibits are amazing. lovely staff who are also very eager to tour you around and talk in depth about each piece.

Compared to other museums, the exhibits are really not that many, nor very interesting as well. I came on a day without special exhibits. Do bear in mind you have to pay 510 yen per person. I think the cost performance is lacking here. It took us less than 30 minutes to finish the visit. Might want to give it a miss unless you have no other places to go.

Just a stop over on the rainy day, There are multiple ticket prices. Basic one Y510, combine Y8xx (something about a museum collection) and a special event Y17xx that not included those previous 2. I did a basic one on the right wing of the building, mostly just a sketch or some art that like grad 12 or under did then a glass collection. A bit boring for modern art in my opinion.

Very nice and inspirational exhibitions. Worth a visit. I personally loved The Transformation of Twentieth-Century European Glass.

Such a beautiful place with well laid out and interactive exhibits. The staff were eager to help and encouraged participation. Definitely bring the kids!