The Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Hayama will be holding an exhibition from April 7th to June 10th entitled "Bruno Munari: Keeping a Child's Heart," which allows visitors to experience Bruno Munari's endless creative activities, from art to design and child education.


Bruno Munari is a rare artist who wears all the hats: painter, sculptor, graphic designer, industrial designer, inventor, author, and child-lover. At the age of 19, he became involved with and was deeply influenced by the avant-garde art movement Futurism, which was sweeping Italy at the time. Through his work as a magazine editor and illustrator, he also deepened his interest and knowledge in design. After World War II, Munari utilized these experiences to create unprecedented artworks, such as the foldable, portable sculpture "Sculpture for Travel" and the original two-dimensional works "Original Xerographia," created using a copy machine, as well as numerous lighting fixtures and furniture pieces that were extremely simple yet beautiful in their utility, earning him high praise both at home and abroad. He also showed a strong interest in art education for children, creating play equipment and picture books packed with mechanisms. His original children's workshops, which he devised, remain relevant to this day as creative activities that use familiar, everyday materials to inspire creativity.


This exhibition, Japan's largest retrospective, focuses on the workshops held during the 1985 retrospective at the National Children's Castle in Shibuya as the "key to understanding Munari," showcasing approximately 320 works spanning his entire career. Approximately 150 pieces will be on display in Japan for the first time, offering a rare opportunity to learn about Munari, who has not been well-known in Japan until now, including works from his time associated with Futurism and original picture book illustrations from his later years.

During the exhibition, there will be a space where visitors can pick up Munari's picture books and play equipment. Every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00, visitors can experience Munari's play equipment for children. This event, "Let's Play with Munari's Play Equipment Every Saturday," is open to children aged 3 and over; elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In addition, a lecture by Kiyoshi Iwasaki, president of the Japan Bruno Munari Association, will be held from 14:00 to 15:30 on May 5th. Other events include gallery talks by curators and an introductory course to modern art museums, "The 'Useless' Bruno Munari Lecture," co-sponsored by Hayama Town. No registration is required and participation is free. For details of each event, please visit the official website (http://www.moma.pref.kanagawa.jp).