Special Exhibitions

Georges Rouault (1871–1958), a devout Catholic, developed a distinctive body of work that stood apart from the dominant artistic movements in France during a period marked by modernization and the growing separation of church and state. His early depictions of acrobats and other figures on the margins of society, rendered in somber tones with grim expressions, gradually evolved into images imbued with gentleness and compassion. A similar transformation is evident in his biblical themes, suggesting that Rouault sought the presence of Jesus Christ within the lives of ordinary people. As part of the museum’s 30th-anniversary commemorative program, this exhibition brings together all four works by Rouault in the collection of the Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art with some 35 works from the collection of the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, exploring the artist’s prayerful vision as expressed across both sacred and secular themes.

Moto Hagio was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1949. For over half a century since her debut as a manga artist in 1969, Hagio has continued to captivate readers with her works across a wide range of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and history. In 2012, Hagio became the first shojo manga artist to receive Japan’s Medal with Purple Ribbon. The government also selected her as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2019 and awarded her the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2022. In 2024, Hagio won a special honorary award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France, and in the same year she was appointed a member of the Japan Art Academy.

Familiar with foreign children's literature and films from an early age, Hagio took her first overseas trip to Europe in 1972, and the following year she studied in England for about six months. These experiences and her subsequent travels abroad have had a significant influence on her creative work. This exhibition will showcase a collection of Hagio’s valuable original artwork, primarily focusing on her manga set in Europe, including Britain, Germany, France, and Italy, as well as representative works such as The Poe Clan and The Heart of Thomas.

The venue, the Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. To commemorate the milestone, we will explore the charm of the world depicted in Hagio’s works at our museum, which houses Oyamazaki Villa, a Western-style building over 100 years old characterized by its architecture modeled after the British Tudor Gothic style.