Tokyo National Museum and Cartier will hold the "Cartier and Japan: Half a Century of Progress 'MUSUBI' - A Dialogue on Beauty and Art" exhibition at the Hyokeikan Museum from June 12 to July 28, 2024.

Courtesy of Cartier
Celebrating 50 years since Cartier opened its first boutique in Japan, this exhibition showcases the various stories connecting the Maison to Japan. Set in the symmetrical Hyokeikan building, the exhibition unravels the two ties between Cartier and Japan, and between the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain and Japanese artists. The exhibition "Cartier and Japan: Half a Century of Progress: 'MUSUBI' - A Dialogue on Beauty and Art," held at the renowned Hyokeikan building within the Tokyo National Museum, highlights the dialogue between Cartier and Japanese culture through approximately 200 pieces from the Cartier Collection, comprised of precious Cartier archive pieces, as well as private collections and archival documents. The "MUSUBI" in the exhibition title represents the long-standing bond between Cartier and Japan. Inspired by the knot motif frequently found in the Maison's historical pieces, it evokes the Japanese objects collected by art lover Louis Cartier in the early 20th century. While the Maison's first boutique in Japan opened in 1974 at the Palais France in Harajuku, Tokyo, its dialogue with Japanese culture began even earlier, dating back to the late 19th century. The first part of the exhibition explores how Japan has influenced Cartier's work from the time of Louis Cartier to the present day, and looks back on Cartier exhibitions held in Japan since 1988, showcasing the Maison's history alongside precious archive pieces from the Cartier Collection.

The exhibition also pays homage to the half-century of shared history between Cartier and Japan. The Maison's savoir-faire and values, along with its ongoing dialogue with Japanese creativity, are expressed through the work of architects, designers, and contemporary artists, including Abe Chitose/sacai, Leandro Erlich, Kawauchi Rinko, Tahara Keiichi, Hibino Katsuhiko, Homma Takashi, and Murase Kyoko.
Cartier's relationship with Japan is also strongly linked to the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain and Japanese artists, whose works are on display in the left wing of the Hyokeikan building. As a pioneer, the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain has been one of the earliest artists to introduce many Japanese artists to a European audience. This section offers a glimpse into the unique way the Foundation has combined various creative disciplines under a kaleidoscopic vision, from curating exhibitions and publications to commissioning works for the Foundation and building its collection.

Through these countless exchanges, the Fondation Cartier has maintained a constant dialogue with Japanese artists and built a true community. This creative dialogue unfolds through the works of 15 leading figures in the Japanese art scene, ranging from paintings by Sho Shibuya, Erina Matsui, Takashi Murakami, and Tadanori Yokoo to photographs by Nobuyoshi Araki, Rinko Kawauchi, and Daido Moriyama, installations by Tabaimo and Tatsuo Miyajima, and works by masters such as Takeshi Kitano, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Yukio Nakagawa, and Issey Miyake. Bringing together for the first time in a single exhibition, the two parallel histories of Maison Cartier and the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain are connected by an installation by Sho Shibuya, displayed at the heart of the building. Commissioned by Cartier to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Cartier Japan, Sho Shibuya traveled across Japan over 36 days to create a series of 50 paintings. It was also his dream to pay homage to Utagawa Hiroshige and his Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (1832). Following in the footsteps of the ukiyo-e master, he began his journey in Nihonbashi, visiting all 47 prefectures and painting a sky for the front page of a local daily newspaper each day. Just as this exhibition is designed to unite the past, present, and future of Cartier's ties to Japan, Sho Shibuya's "Fifty Sky Views of Japan" demonstrates the continuity of this connection and symbolizes Cartier's history of constant evolution and renewal.

The spatial composition of the exhibition, designed by Studio Adrien Gardére, enhances and celebrates the traditional architecture of the Hyokeikan, while also serving as Cartier's homage to Japan and its aesthetics. Traditional materials are revisited, and niches and tables inspired by alcoves and sukiya architecture enhance each exhibit. Additionally, Japanese industrial scaffolding systems are used to create the stage sets for the artists' exhibits, reflecting the bold and vibrant relationship between the Fondation Cartier and Japan.





About the Tokyo National Museum
The Tokyo National Museum is the museum with the longest history in Japan, dating back to the 1872 exposition held at the Taiseiden Hall of Yushima Seido. The museum is involved in the collection, preservation, repair, management, exhibition, research, and educational outreach of a wide range of cultural assets, including Japanese and Eastern art and archaeology. With over 120,000 items, the Tokyo National Museum boasts the largest collection in Japan in terms of both quantity and quality. Approximately 3,000 items are regularly on display at its comprehensive cultural exhibitions.


About Cartier
Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier is one of the world's leading luxury Maisons. With an open mind and curiosity, it has continued to discover the beauty hidden in all things through its original creations. The Maison's creative scope spans a wide range, from jewelry, high jewelry, and watchmaking to fragrances, leather goods, and accessories, and Cartier's creations combine exceptional craftsmanship with a timeless signature.
Responsive and committed to the times, the Maison Cartier supports artistic and cultural creation through the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art (founded in 1984), female entrepreneurs through the Cartier Women's Initiative (founded in 2006), vulnerable communities, especially women and children, through Cartier Philanthropy (founded in 2012), and the protection of the environment and biodiversity through Cartier for Nature (founded in 2020).


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