Calder: Swaying, Feeling, Seeing Japan at Azabudai Hills

The solo exhibition "Calder: Swaying, Feeling, Seeing Japan" by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) has begun at the Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo, marking the first such exhibition in the city in about 35 years. There are FREE MONDAY NIGHTS, with free admission on the fourth Monday evening of each month, which is highly recommended. The exhibition features approximately 100 works from the Calder Foundation's collection, including his iconic mobiles, stabiles, standing mobiles, oil paintings, and drawings from the 1930s to the 1970s. The exhibition title, "Calder: Swaying, Feeling, Seeing Japan," reflects the presence of mobiles throughout the gallery. However, it can be frustrating as blowing on or touching the mobiles is prohibited. Personally, I wish there were more interactive displays where one could experience the swaying. Nevertheless, the occasional movement of the mobiles, influenced by the air conditioning, creates unexpected and captivating motions. The ingenuity of the fixtures allows the parts to move independently, resulting in movements more mysterious than I had imagined. Watching the moving mobiles felt like watching a dance. Many of Calder's works are titled "Untitled." According to the president of the Calder Foundation, "He didn't want to dictate how viewers should experience his works. He wanted you to have your own experience and didn't want to interfere with that. He hoped that through your personal experience, you would come to know yourself a little better. That was his goal, and all his works are about personal self-discovery, a kind of meditation." While you can't make Calder's works sway yourself, it was a great experience to feel them. Calder: Swaying, Feeling, Seeing Japan May 30, 2024 - September 6, 2024 Azabudai Hills Gallery 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A MB Floor Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays until 19:00) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing Closed: June 4, July 2, August 6 Admission: General 1500 yen (1300 yen) / College and university students 1200 yen (1000 yen) / High school students 1000 yen (800 yen)