“The Doraemon Exhibition Tokyo 2017” opened at the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi earlier this month and has received much praise.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the internationally adored Doraemon and 28 contemporary artists. Each of them was asked to create their own Doraemon with many works coming out from acclaimed artists such as Takashi Murakami and Mika Ninagawa. Today, we are joined by Rinko Murata who will serve as our guide around the exhibition to see the world’s most beloved blue robot cat.
You will find the exhibition at the Mori Arts Center Gallery located nearby Roppongi Station via the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Ōedo Line. It’s situated inside Roppongi Hills, so you can enjoy a bit of shopping after stopping by the exhibition.
Upon entering the gallery, the first thing you’ll see a huge piece of art by Takashi Murakami. There are countless scenes taken from Doraemon and turned into artwork with the finest details, so be sure to really give each piece a good look.
A stand-out feature of this entire exhibition is the number of huge artworks on display, all of which bring to life the world of Doraemon that Fujiko F. Fujio created.
Sebastian Masuda was present at the gallery. His own piece, “Saigo no Weapon,” was also on show. Inspired by the movie “Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights,” his giant Doraemon is made of things like fur and toys! It was breathtaking and completely captures the essence of Harajuku’s kawaii culture.
The exhibition is also home to life-sized figures besides illustrations and photographs! Pictured above is “Kuse Doraemon” by Motohiko Odani, a stylish and original take on Doraemon that breaks away from the aesthetic of manga.
This next piece is “Dorasu” (2002) by Yasumasa Morimura and The Lawyers. It takes the round shape of Doraemon to become a dress. Both the front and back are worthy of note so be sure to check it out! Rinko-chan indomitably decided on the same pose as the statue while dumbfounded by its impact.
The works on show by artists like Tomoko Konoike, ShiShi Yamazaki and Kotobuki Shiriagari are so fascinating you’ll be back to look at them over and over again. Rinko-chan’s favourite was “Doraemon no Uta on Mt. Moriyoshi” by Tomoko Konoike which has an impressive snowy white landscape. Listen to Konoike singing by herself on the snowy mountain, you’ll be completely sucked in.
What we mustn’t forget when it comes to Doraemon is the charm of the character. “Seisou” by Kumi Machida elicits joyous, New Year’s-like feelings. The picture has a Japanese taste to it thanks to the ink and gold leaf on on Japanese canvas paper.
Rinko-chan’s number one favourite was Yoshitomo Nara’s take on Dorami from the series. “The title of this work says it all: ‘Dorami @ Midnight Still Without Her Ribbon That Was Taken by Gian.’ The gravity of this picture completely absorbs you in, you have to see it up close for yourself! I’ve never really looked at Dorami so closely before, but this is quite high spec.”
Another Rinko-chan recommendation is “Watashi no Ie no Doraemon no Shashin” (Photos of Doraemon in My Home), which charmingly depicts heart-warming everyday photos. Doraemon is the focus in these portraits which are comprised of memories of Kayo Ume’s family. Her grandpa is too cute!
Mika Ninagawa’s display shows her and Doraemon on a date for a day. It features photos from 2017 as well as photos taken last year too, so it’s fun to compare.
The museum shop sells lots of limited edition merchandise you can only buy for this exhibition. The backpack (￥13,000 tax excl.) features a collage of scenes from the original Doraemon manga. The shop is filled with magnificent items that can be used not just as fan merchandise but as fashion accessories too.
There’s even a merch line-up by artists who are participating in the exhibition! The stylish items pictured above are from Sebastian Masuda.
The venue also has a cafe called “THE SUN” which is serving a collaborative Doraemon menu! After browsing the exhibition, you can complete your day of Doraemon by tasting an original line-up of foods available only here.
Before we end today’s trip, here are some parting thoughts from Rinko-chan on her time at the exhibition.
“All of the art pieces on show pave the way for originality. I was able to get a glimpse into a new kind of Doraemon world I have never seen before. Although they all maintain their own individuality, the line between the original manga and exhibition pieces were not blurred so I was able to get an even deeper feel into the original work. I came to realise what an amazing manga it really is! Doraemon has been reborn and changed by lots of artists leaving lots of new discoveries to be found, so I hope everyone will visit!”
“The Doraemon Exhibition Tokyo 2017” is running until January 8, 2018, so why not start making your New Year’s plans now?
■Information
The Doraemon Exhibition Tokyo 2017
Running: November 1, 2017 to January 8, 2018 *no closures for the duration of the event
Location: Mori Arts Center Gallery (Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 52F)
Address: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo
Open: 10:00-20:00 (until 17:00 on Tuesdays) *last entries are 30 minutes before the closing time
Price: Same-Day – General – ￥1,800 / Middle & High School Students – ￥1,400 / 4-Years Old to Elementary School Students – ￥800
Advance – General – ￥1,600 / Middle & High School Students – ￥1,200 / 4-Years Old to Elementary School Students – ￥600
*All prices include tax.
“THE SUN” Cafe
Location: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 52F
Collaboration: November 1, 2017 to January 8, 2018
Open: 11:00-22:00 (food last orders 21:00 / drinks last orders 21:30)
*An ticket is required for entry to the cafe. A ticket for either the “The Doraemon Exhibition Tokyo 2017,” viewing platform or Mori Museum is accepted.
*A limited edition collaborative menu will be available for the duration of the Doraemon exhibition.
The Tokyo-based girl artists and creators' collective bala has finally launched for real! The group will release its first single barla on March 8.
bala consists of MANON, SUNNY ONLY 1, DAN, and KANO, each with their own global background. The project aims to resonate with Gen Z youth culture and to be a collective of artists that connects hybrid Japanese pop culture with audiences around the world.
The debut song barla was produced by Shinichi Osawa, who has numerous hits under the name Mondo Grosso. It was co-written by Kenmochi Hidefumi from Wednesday Campanella. With Y2K culture making a comeback around the world, the track features the house sound popular in the late 90s which is showing signs of becoming the next musical trend yet again. The groovy dance tune is a perfect theme song for these girls who will lead the next generation of pop culture.
<Comment from Shinichi Osawa>
“I’m honored to be involved in bala’s debut. The members are super unique, and collaborating with Kenmochi-san for the first time was a dream come true.”
<Comment from Kenmochi Hidefumi>
“I’m happy to be able to work with the members of bala and Shinichi Osawa. Everyone is so uniquely talented, and this song is filled with everyone's energy and excitement inspired by their long-awaited debut!”
The film Doraemon: Nobita’s Sky Utopia will be released on March 3, 2023. The 42nd Doraemon movie follows Doraemon, Nobita, and his friends as they venture off to find Utopia, a perfect land in the sky where everyone lines in joy and happiness. They do so using an airship with a time warp function on their adventure, and to commemorate the film’s release, the Flying Doraemon Project began on January 14. A real-life 17-meter-long Doraemon blimp will soon appear in the sky, and fans are being asked to decide on a name for the craft.
The blimp, inspired by the Doraemon movie, will feature popular characters including Nobita, Shizuka, Suneo, and Gian. The blimp is the largest unmanned airship in Japan.
The message of the Flying Doraemon Project is to convey the feeling that in this day and age, children and adults alike can once again look upward and move forward toward their hopes and dreams.
Fans are asked to contribute ideas for the blimps name during the application period. Check the website for more details!
Shogakukan’s online store has released a long-sleeve shirt inspired by Nobita’s room from the long-running Doraemon series. Released on December 15, the fashionable and fun item is sure to be a fan favorite.
Art collective TeamLab has redesigned two exhibitions at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. The world’s first permanent exhibition from the creators, Future World: Where Art Meets Science, was opened in 2016 at the Museum of Art and Science. Guests can now enjoy three new works along with the Digital Light Canvas, a huge, interactive space inviting guests to share their own pieces of art.
Drawing Flight
Visitors can immerse themselves in these impressive new works while experiencing a complex, three-dimensional world. They can also create new worlds with others!
Future World
The Drawing Flight, part of the Amusement Park of the Future series, is based on the concept of co-creation, allowing visitors to not only draw an airplane that will fly but also allowing them to operate it from a pilot's point of view using a tablet. Whether visitors draw a butterfly or a hawk, they’ll see the world from the perspective of each creature and enter a world constructed by the creature's unique perceptions.
Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds
In Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds, guests are asked to perceive the world with their entire bodies. Visitors cross a space with sticks floating three-dimensionally in the air.
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self
Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self offers a new and abstract concept. As people touch the dots, the rhythm of the dots flickers and their hue changes and disintegrates. The picture will then change dramatically, and despite these changes, the beauty remains.
Digital Light Canvas
Graffiti Nature - Red List Digital Light Canvas
Digital Light Canvas is a space consisting of a 15-meter-diameter circular link of light and a 20-meter-high cylinder of light made up of a collection of light dots. Team Lab's interactive artwork, which changes depending on how many people are around, is on permanent display.
Yoshitaka Amano, known by international fans as the artist behind the legendary Final Fantasy video game series, is celebrating his 70th birthday with a unique art project from November 23 until December 8 at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto. On the first day of the event, the venue, decorated with autumn leaves, was crowded with visitors including foreign tourists, who marveled at the fantastic space filled harmoniously with gold and blue. The exhibition will be held at Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. This collection of works was designed to question visitors’ sensibilities and provide a new kind of art exhibition for fans to enjoy.After the exhibition, the main art piece by Yoshitaka himself will be converted to 3DCG, and a Virtual Golden World will be developed in collaboration with the Yoshitaka Amano VR Museum. By integrating traditional and modern art methods, guests will be able to engage more deeply in the art by enjoying digital works, the metaverse, and NFTs.Don't miss this curious exhibition!
