The Setagaya Art Museum will host the exhibition "The Matsumoto Ruki Collection: In Search of Utopia: Russian Avant-Garde and Soviet Modernism in Posters" from September 30th.

The exhibition showcases approximately 180 works, including many never-before-seen pieces, from the vast collection of approximately 20,000 pieces amassed over the course of a lifetime by Matsumoto Ruki, designer of the fashion brand "BA-TSU" and a world-renowned poster collector. The exhibition is divided into three periods, showcasing the historical development of art from the early 20th century to the early 1930s, when Soviet art policy was undergoing transformation, and includes works by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Kasimir Malevich, Aleksander Rodchenko, and the Stenberg brothers, Vladimir and Georgii. Additionally, a related event will feature the "Setagaya Design School." Lectures will explore the appeal of Russian avant-garde posters on four themes: "The Design Language of the Russian Avant-Garde" (October 11), "The Typography of the Russian Avant-Garde" (October 19), "The Russian Avant-Garde and the State" (November 2), and "Propaganda Iconography and Methods" (November 15). Lecturers include graphic designer Koji Kurihara, who also designed the posters for the exhibition, and Masahiko Kimura, director of GK Graphics and vice president of the Typography Society of Japan. Each lecture will begin at 4:00 PM and last one hour. Participation is free. Reservations are currently being accepted via the "Programs & Events" application form on the Setagaya Art Museum website or by phone. (Note: Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and may already be closed.) Ruki Matsumoto was born in Tokyo on December 29, 1946. He passed away on March 11, 2012. While studying at Bunka Fashion College, he founded the All Fashion Art Institute. In the same year, he founded the fashion brand "BA-TSU" as both producer and designer. He subsequently launched numerous apparel brands, including "MINI BA-TSU," "MEN'S BA-TSU," and "Chained Angel." As a pioneer of total producers, he produced the publication of Mitsuo Aida's book "Ningendamono" (Bunka Publishing Bureau), and also worked on commercial facilities, resort development, and as a design advisor for numerous companies.


【Event Information】
"Matsumoto Ruki Collection: In Search of Utopia: Russian Avant-Garde and Soviet Modernism in Posters" Exhibition
Venue: Setagaya Art Museum
Address: 1-2 Kinuta Park, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Dates: September 30th to November 24th
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (last admission at 17:30)
Closed: Mondays (open October 13th, November 3rd and 24th, closed October 14th and November 4th)
Admission Fee: Adults 1,000 yen, University/High School Students and those 65 and over 800 yen, Elementary/Junior High School Students 500 yen