An art exhibition that goes beyond a manga exhibition! Introducing the attraction of the first exhibition of the popular manga “Blue Period: ～Art is a gift? ～”

This is a sudden question but, do you know how good Picasso’s paintings art?

Art is a gift?

Hello, my name is Kitazawa, from the Public Relations Department, Division 4.

© Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

The first exhibition of “Blue Period Exhibition ～Art is a gift? ～”,(hereafter referred to as “Blue Period”) which is currently being serialized in Kodansha’s “Monthly Afternoon,” will finally open on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Terada Warehouse G1 Building in TENNOZ ISLE, Tokyo. (SUNNY SIDE UP  is a member of the Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee, and will be working to make this exhibition a great success!)

▼Click here to read the exhibition report.
Blue Period Exhibition ～ Art is a gift? ～Terada Warehouse @ TENNOZ ISLE

Blue Period Exhibition: ～Art is a gift?～

One day, Yaguchi Yatora, a high school student living a fulfilling life with excellent grades and a high ranking in the school caste but feeling somewhat empty and frustrated in his daily life, meets this painting, which leads him to enter the beautiful but demanding world of art….

The term “blue period,” derived from Picasso’s painting style, is used to describe an anxious adolescence. This manga is full of art know-how and trivia, and is a story of a youthful, sporty boy who devotes his youth in art to go to an art college. Many fans are struck by the efforts of Hachitora and his friends to pursue their future of “what they love” and by the inspiring words of encouragement of the characters.

The Blue Period exhibition will explore the world of the manga Blue Period through a variety of projects, from exhibits that allow visitors to relive the story of the main character Yaguchi Yatora and his friends who aspire to enter the university of the arts, to exhibits of paintings that appear in the work and an immersive theater, to more exhibits that bring art close to the viewer, such as explanations of famous paintings. In addition, there will be exhibits that allow visitors to enjoy the appeal of current Japanese art as well as famous artworks from the historical past. With numerous mechanisms that can be enjoyed as both a manga exhibition and an art exhibition, visitors can enjoy the exhibition in a different way each time they come to the venue.

There are also exhibits in which visitors can actually participate, so the content of the exhibition is not limited to just viewing. Our PR staff will introduce some of the attractions of the exhibition in this issue.

A new way to look at paintings! “How to See Masterpieces” Corner

© Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

When you go to an art museum, don’t you ever wonder what is so great about this painting…? This exhibition is recommended for such people. Hashida, a classmate of mine at an art prep school, taught me the joy of looking at works of art when I used to feel that artworks were difficult to understand. Just like Hashida, visitors can discover their own way of enjoying the masterpieces in the film by viewing them with the characters in the film.

Come alone or with friends to enjoy the “Character Plaster Room” where you can seriously paint!

© Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

Everyone has seen a plaster cast in an art room at least once. In a space reminiscent of the plaster cast room at the University of the Arts, the characters appear dressed as famous statues such as David Brutus Molière. The attraction of this area is available on weekdays only, visitors are free to draw in front of these statues! After actually drawing them, return to the exhibit and see what you can discover!

A must for manga fans! “First round of examinations”

© Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

 However, Yatora realizes that what is important is his own ability. The mirror is broken. The exhibition reproduced the accident in which the mirror broke, and reproduced the examination room including the works of the first examination of other characters who had not appeared in the original work. What kind of self-portrait did the characters draw, the broken mirror… and there are plenty of highlights.

You can see Makoto Aida’s work on display for the first time! “Seeing the ‘blue period’ of artists now”

Work: “Untitled” 1983 paper, charcoal 65 x 50cm ©AIDA Makoto Courtesy of Mizuma Art Gallery
Portrait: Courtesy of Mizuma Art Gallery ©Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

The exhibition features works from the Blue Period by six active artists and creators, including artist Makoto Aida. Visitors will be able to see the works of people who are active today at the time when they started their career in the field of art. Makoto Aida’s work will be shown for the first time.
Participating artists and creatorsMakoto Aida, Tomoki Kodama, Akino Kondo, Yuma Tomiyasu, Kazunari Hattori, Nanae Mitobe

Meet new art! “Blue Art Collaboration”

© Tsubasa Yamaguchi / Kodansha / Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee

The Blue Period Exhibition is conducting the “Blue Art Project”. One of these projects is the “Blue Art Collaboration,” in which new artworks will be created with contemporary artists.

This is an initiative to have all 20 contemporary artists who are currently active in the field of art create artworks based on the challenges posed by Yatora, the main character in the manga, to be exhibited at the Blue Period Exhibition and even sold on the art communication platform “ArtSticker”. This is a great opportunity for new art encounters.

Blue Period Exhibition is also available for purchase, digitally, and also includes a virtual exhibition (available from July) along with its original content. In addition, two audio guides to choose from: one by the official ambassador, Akira Kawashima of Kirin, and the other by the voice actor who voiced the characters in the anime are also available.

<Comments from the team in charge>

This exhibition is not only for manga fans, but also for those who have always wondered, “How can I enjoy art? What’s so great about it? The exhibition will be accompanied by the beautiful voice of Akira Kawashima, a big fan and official ambassador of “Blue Period,” and will be enjoyable not only for those who have read the manga, but also for those who have never read it!

We are planning to publish an on-site report on the actual visit to the Blue Period exhibition in the near future.

Official website:  Blue Period Exhibition: ～ Art is a gift? ～ 

Outline of the exhibition

Exhibition name: “Blue Period: Art is a gift? ~” Dates: June 18, 2022 (Fri.)
Dates: Saturday, June 18 – Tuesday, September 27, 2022
(First Period: Saturday, June 18 – Friday, August 5 Second Period: Saturday, August 6 – Tuesday, September 27)
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 *Last admission 30 minutes before closing time
Venue ：Terada Warehouse G1 Building, Tennozu, Tokyo (2-6-4 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo)
Sponsor ：Blue Period Exhibition Production Committee
(Kodansha, Dentsu, TBS, Toppan Printing, Ticket Pia, SUNNY SIDE UP, BS-TBS, Dentsu LIVE)[WY1]
Sponsor ：TikTok, Terada Warehouse Co.
Supported by ：Shinagawa City
Cooperation ：ArtSticker, Shinjuku Art Institute, SCRAP