Genichiro Inokuma was a painter born in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in 1902. To understand the kind of person he was through his work, I visited the Marugame Genichiro Inokuma Museum of Art (commonly known as MIMOCA, hereafter referred to as MIMOCA) in Inokuma's hometown of Kagawa.

Before visiting MIMOCA, I had one question in mind. The more I researched Genichiro Inokuma, the more I was amazed by his diverse painting styles, and the more I began to wonder, "Which of these is the real Inokuma?"

Of course, each piece is undoubtedly Inokuma's work, with his brush in hand. However, sometimes his works have a strong Henri Matisse feel, and sometimes they evoke a Picasso. He also seems to move between figurative and abstract, freely manipulating color and form.

So, what kind of life did Inokuma lead as an artist? Let's explore the exhibition "Genichiro Inokuma Exhibition: 'My Resume' Part 1 - Painting Requires Courage," running until June 30th, with museum curator Kanako Furuno.

Click here for part 1/2.

■A Collection of Approximately 20,000 Inokuma Works, from His Childhood to His Final Years

MIMOCA has a collection of approximately 20,000 Inokuma works. The collection includes paintings from his childhood, works from his time as a student at Tokyo University of the Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), and works created in Japan, France, New York, Hawaii, and elsewhere until his final years. In addition, the museum also houses a variety of items collected by Inokuma, selected for each exhibition and displayed alongside his paintings. MIMOCA is truly a place where you can learn about the trajectory of Inokuma's creative activities throughout his life.



■My Resume - Painting Takes Courage

When I visited MIMOCA in May, they were showcasing a special exhibition called "Genichiro Inokuma Exhibition: 'My Resume': Part 1 - Painting Takes Courage," which was based on the manuscript Inokuma wrote about his life for the 1979 serial "My Resume" in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, as well as the "Face Series," which Inokuma painted in his later years. I'd like to explore these two exhibitions with curator Furuno and get to know Inokuma through his work.


■ From a boy with artistic talent to the painter Inokuma Genichiro

This exhibition, which explores Inokuma's life based on "My Resume," begins with works from his childhood, when he first discovered his passion for painting. Inokuma then went on to study at what is now Tokyo University of the Arts, where he was influenced by his classmates, including Koiso Ryohei, Ogisu Takanori, Nakanishi Toshio, Okada Kenzo, and Yamaguchi Takeo, who would go on to become successful painters. His constant changes in style can be seen in the works, as he repeatedly tried and tested his style, honing his skills with his classmates in an attempt to create works that were truly his own. It is as if his works are Inokuma's answers at each stage to the question, "What kind of pictorial expression can I create?"






■A word from Matisse: "Your paintings are too good."

Inokuma had longed to go to Paris since his student days, and in 1938, he set foot in the land of his dreams with his wife, Fumiko. There, Inokuma had the opportunity to have Matisse look at his paintings, and Matisse told him, "Your paintings are too good." Inokuma wrote about this in his book, "My Resume."

--In the end, painting well is related to painting with the hope that others will look at it well. (Omitted) The most important thing is to put your thoughts onto the canvas in a straightforward, unpretentious way. That's what my teacher meant when he said, "Your paintings are too good." (Omitted) These words have been the greatest lesson in everything I've learned throughout my life. --


■Pursuing my own unique style of expression

One of the painters with whom Inokuma had a close relationship was Tsuguharu Foujita. Foujita and Inokuma were friends who shared the same living quarters during World War II, evacuating together to the French countryside and with Foujita encouraging Inokuma to board a repatriation ship to Japan. The exhibition also features "A Doll-Like Child at Les Eyssy" (1939), a work in which Inokuma imitates Foujita's distinctive milky-white underpainting technique. Also on display is "Mademoiselle M" (1940), a work that Inokuma continued to paint amid the war until just before boarding the final repatriation ship to Japan. This work was Inokuma's last work in Paris and is considered a masterpiece of his figurative art.



Even during his short three-year stay in Paris, Inokuma's works constantly changed in appearance. This exhibition allowed us to see Inokuma's intense pursuit of his own unique form of expression over those three years. Through his creative activities, Inokuma likely continued to ask himself, "What is my own expression?" and "What is beauty?" throughout his life. The life of artist Genichiro Inokuma may have been a series of discoveries made through his creative work.

--I'm truly glad I became a painter. (Omitted) I continue to create every day with joy and gratitude, and I am filled with the desire to create something completely new, with the pure, lively, and cheerful heart of a child, always filled with wonder and curiosity about the unknown. --Excerpt from "My Resume" by Inokuma Genichiro

At MIMOCA, you can learn about the path of Inokuma Genichiro, an artist who courageously chose to face art. If you're visiting the Setouchi region, this is definitely one place you'll want to visit.

[Exhibition Information]
Special Exhibition "Teppei Kaneuji's Mercator Membrane"
Period: July 17th to November 6th

Permanent Exhibition "Genichiro Inokuma Exhibition: Creation in New York - Design, Wall"
Period: July 17th to November 6th

Special Exhibition "Takashi Homma "Mitsukoshi Wrapping Paper""
Period: July 17th to November 6th
[Museum Information]
Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: 80-1 Hamacho, Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture (In front of JR Marugame Station)
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Last admission 5:30 PM)
Closed: Year-end (December 25th to 30th) *May be subject to temporary closures