The International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL) located in Ueno has its own museum that is dedicated to conveying the special appeal of children’s literature. The museum holds exhibitions of children’s books which help open new doors that lead to art and spark interest in other countries around the world. We sat with Kenichi Terakura, Director General of ILCL, who talked about the museum’s role and about the special exhibition “100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to New Painting” which was held from October 2019 through January 2020.
Kenichi Terakura, Director General, International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL)
Ueno is known as the hub for all kinds of museums, some of them the best that Japan has to offer. Yet not a lot of people are aware of this particular museum that is housed inside the library. We asked the director general Kenichi Terakura about the facility’s raison d’etre.
“It is
very important that we host exhibitions of children’s books. It is a way to
introduce the attractions of children’s literature to a wide audience, in a simple,
accessible way. The International Youth Library in Munich, Germany served as
one of our models when we opened the ILCL; it also has its own museum and exhibits
the works of writer Michael Ende. We take our mission as a museum dedicated to
children’s literature very seriously, and we have been curating a variety of themed
exhibitions ever since our opening”.
These exhibitions are held in the “Museum”, located on the third floor of the former Imperial Library building (Brick Building). The Museum used to be a general reading room for the Imperial Library. When the soaring ceiling, almost 10 meters high, was restored for reopening, the ornate plaster decorations from its former life were carefully reproduced. The spacious room comfortably accommodates two over-size wooden display columns which are outfitted with display cases on the outside and filled with children’s books. The museum is a gem worthy of a visit, even if it is just for admiring the beautiful facility.
The “Museum” is located on the third floor of the Brick Building. The museum holds about four exhibitions every year. Located inside a historic building, the spacious room with its soaring ceiling exudes abundant charm.
The ILCL has been promoting different exhibition styles based on different themes and viewpoints, like showing children’s books from around the world grouped by country and region, and a hands-on display of award-winning children’s books from Japan and overseas. It has hosted some unique events including an exhibition that looked back on “The Golden Age of the Picture Book” — the 1920s and the 1930s — when many picture books were published around the world. Another exhibition focused on Japanese children’s books that were translated and “went abroad”. The “100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to New Painting” (from October 1, 2019 to January 19, 2020) drew a lot of interest, and was introduced in the popular television program “Nichiyo Bijutsukan (Sunday Museum)” produced by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
More than 300 works published around the world were shown at the “100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to New Painting” exhibition that was held from October 1, 2019 to January 19, 2020. *
It is not a far stretch for
an artist known for her gentle, friendly style to try her hand at creating a
picture book. But this exhibition shed light on many picture books that were
created by surrealist artists like Salvador Dali, and artists like Yayoi
Kusama, Shinro Ohtake, Kenjiro Okazaki, who are considered avant-garde, and “edgy”.
So, it comes as no surprise that the exhibition appealed to many artistic types
who had never heard about ILCL before.
“In recent years we are seeing many artists entering the picture book genre. They are expanding the genre’s range of expression, and are producing a lot of unique books. As a result, more young artists are getting interested in the picture book medium. I feel as if the borderline that separated artwork and picture books is quickly disappearing”.
“Jari ojisan”, written and illustrated by Shinro Ohtake, Fukuinkan Shoten, 1994 *“Alice in Wonderland: With artwork by Yayoi Kusama”, written by Lewis Carrol, translated by Kimie Kusumoto, with illustrations by Yayoi Kusama, Graphic-sha, 2013*“Popapepopipappu”, illustrated by Kenjiro Okazaki, written by Shuntaro Tanikawa, Crayon House, 2004 *“A Suprematist Tale about Two Squares in 6 Constructions”, illustrated by El Lissitzky, Skify, 1922“Sea and Lighthouse Book”, written by Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky, illustrated by Boris Vladimirovich Pokrovsky, translated by Sayaka Matsuya, Shinkyo Publishing, 2010
“Artists who want to get rid of the boundaries of logic and reasoning, and express madness and their subconscious mind are deliberately choosing picture books as a form of artistic expression. In other words, they are aware that picture books provide ‘freedom’. Artists have discovered the wide range of possibilities that picture books offer. We want to convey that message”.
Ueno has
a high concentration of cultural facilities including the National Museum of
Western Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, all considered
top institutions in the field of art. Many art enthusiasts who haunt the area
might have been tempted to make a detour and visit the “100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art in Picture Books – From Dada to
New Painting” exhibition at the ILCL.
“Vice versa, when the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum held an exhibition with a children’s theme, staff from our library went over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and held a book reading event. It was a collaboration project only made possible, here in Ueno”.
The ILCL has a hall with a high ceiling which is sometimes used for concerts and other musical events. Terakura looks forward to promoting more collaboration events with places like the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan concert hall. “Children are notoriously straightforward with their responses. So, I think this would be a great place for musicians who enjoy interactive events that involve the audience”.
The Brick Building is an attractive showcase for the Hall and the Museum where exhibitions are held. The building consists of a Renaissance-style architecture which was popular in the Meiji era, and a modern glass façade which was added on when repairs took place in the Heisei era — a combination of great beauty.
Small children could spend the morning romping around the Ueno Zoo followed by a visit to the library in the afternoon to look at books and illustrated reference books, where they can check out their favorite animals. Science lovers might want to stop by at the “Teens’ Research Room” after visiting an exhibition at the National Museum of Nature and Science, and do some research on something that sparked their interest. Art lovers, music lovers, science fans and animal persons, everyone can benefit by including a stop at the ILCL in their Ueno itinerary.
Terakura said, “I am thinking that we might be able to do something together with performance artists who gather at Ueno. We know that children love these interactive-type events”. With ILCL initiating and supporting new events, we can look forward to hearing about more ways to enjoy Ueno.
Text: Eri Eguchi Photos: Fumitaka Miyoshi Photos courtesy of the International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL) (marked *)
The International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL)
Address: 12-49, Ueno Park, Taito-Ku, Tokyo Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 Closed: Mondays, every third Wednesday (closed for filing), National holidays (except Children’s Day on May 5th), year end and New Year’s holidays URL：https://www.kodomo.go.jp
*The article is based on information provided as of February 2020
