Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum/International Library of Children’s Literature Collaboration #2 The Art of Story Time: Picture Books as an Introduction to the World of Art
Coinciding with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s Ueno Artist Project 2019: “Artists Look at Children” exhibition and the National Diet Library International Library of Children’s Literature’s 100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to New Painting retrospective, the two institutions partnered on a collaborative initiative with children as its common theme.
Following on the heels of an inaugural talk event given at the International Library of Children’s Literature on November 30th, 2019, the collaboration returned for a second installment the following December 22nd, hosted at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Conducted by librarians from the International Library of Children’s Literature, this second presentation was entitled A Kids’ Guide to Art Appreciation with a Picture Book Read-Aloud, and featured an engaging story time session for a rapt young audience.
The lecture began with an ice-breaking group rendition of a Japanese nursery rhyme, after which the children were all ears for story time.
Held in the Art Study Room located on the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s Intercommunication Building, A Kids’ Guide to Art Appreciation proved to be an enlightening, jam-packed event. The day began with a story time session led by an International Library of Children’s Literature librarian , followed by an introduction of art-related picture books, and concluded with a curatorial lecture on the 100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books exhibition shown at the library. A comfy foam playmat had been set up in the center of the room, providing the kids with an optimal view of the oversized picture book propped up on an easel.
The story time component was led by Mariko Motohashi from the library’s Children’s Services Division. For the first book, she chose Hajimete no Otsukai (Author: Yoriko Tsutsui/Illustrator: Akiko Hayashi). Available in English translation as Miki’s First Errand, the book thematically dovetailed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s Artists Look at Children exhibition in its lively depiction of a five-year-old protagonist named Miki, who is entrusted with the daunting task of going to the shop to buy milk all on her own.
The children were spellbound from the very first page, leaning forward anxiously in empathetic anticipation, eager to hear whether Miki would pull through in the end. Upon reaching the last scene, the children breathed a collective sigh of relief when Miki safely returned home to her mother with milk in hand.
For the second book, Motohashi selected Boku no Kureyon (“My Crayon”), to demonstrate the relevance of the crayon as a tool used to create artwork. Written and illustrated by award-winning children’s book author Shinta Cho, each page is a rich testament to the joy and creative freedom of crayon as an artistic medium. The children thoroughly enjoyed the playful rhythm of the text, and admired the colorful illustrations with wide eyes.
As story time came to a close, the presenters prepared to introduce books pertaining to art museums. Overcome with excitement, one particularly enthusiastic young audience member leapt from his chair and claimed a prime spot on the playmat right in front of the presenter, where he could get a better look.
When flipping through a book on paintings, the children buzzed with excitement as the presenter turned the page to reveal Munch’s The Scream. Evidently, many of the children vividly remembered the iconic work from a Munch retrospective held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in 2018.
An exhibition curator discusses the International Library of Children’s Literature and the 100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books exhibition.
During the second half of the event, Resources and Information Division Assistant Director Shingo Kato provided an introduction of the International Library of Children’s Literature, and discussed the library’s 100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books exhibition. Highlighting a handful of representative picture books from the exhibition, Kato also provided commentary on major art movements of the 20th century, ranging from Dadaism to Surrealism and the Russian avant-garde. Speaking slowly and clearly, Kato ensured that his talk was accessible to all ages in the audience, and the children nodded along intently.
Kato’s presentation evinced how picture books are an important presence in the realms of art and design, drawing on a wide palette of graphic design and other visual elements. Moreover, he also underscored the pivotal role picture books play in expanding the creative faculties of readers. Taking this message to heart, the event’s participants eagerly reached for the stack of books that had been prepared for the occasion, rediscovering the joy of picture books with a newfound understanding and appreciation.
Text: Naoko Tsunoda (Fillmore East Co., Ltd.) Photos: International Library of Children’s Literature
Event list
■Ueno Artist Project 2019: “Artists Look at Children” Dates: Saturday, November 16th, 2019 – Sunday, January 5th, 2020 Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Gallery A, C
Note: This exhibition has ended.
■100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to New Painting Dates: Tuesday, October 1st – Sunday, November 17th, 2019 Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 – Sunday, January 19th, 2020 Venue: International Library of Children’s Literature, Brick Building, 3F Museum
