This exhibition focuses on recent sculptures by Bidou Yamaguchi that apply the forms, techniques, transformative spirit, and mysterious elegance of Noh masks to iconic female portraits from the European art historical canon, and to Kabuki actor prints of Sharaku, Japan’s enigmatic 18th century portrait master. These works radically extend Noh’s transformation of souls across time and space, projecting them into new cultural and physical dimensions. Traditions Transfigured includes educational and interactive components that show a set of masks displaying the carving process, a video explaining mask-making, and a secured mask that visitors can handle, try on, and photograph themselves wearing.
Bidou Yamaguchi (b. 1970, Fukuoka, Japan) has been a Noh mask creator affiliated with the Hōshō School of Noh in Tokyo since 1998. His “reproduction” masks are in collections including Nihon University, Tokyo, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Target Corporation. He has shown his work at venues including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Portland Art Museum, and Carleton College, and has lectured widely in the United States and Europe. His Sharaku masks were featured in the Edo Pop exhibition. Traditions Transfigured is the first exhibition to display the breadth of his work.
Admission to this exhibition is free for Asia Society members and children ages 5 and under, $5 for nonmembers.
Hours
Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays
Photography
Photography of the exhibition without flash is permitted.
Night Market & Exhibition Opening
Friday, October 24, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Night Market returns to celebrate the opening of Traditions Transfigured: The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi. This festive, family-friendly night of food, vendors, and crafts will offer a free first look at the artwork. To date, confirmed vendors include Path of Tea, Foreign Policy, Brazos Bookstore, Orchid Obsessions, Texas T Kobe Beef, and more!
Members Brunch with Bidou Yamaguchi
In conversation with Dr. Kendall Brown, University Art Museum at California State University Long Beach
Saturday, October 25, 11:00 am
Artist Talk by Bidou Yamaguchi with Dr. Kendall Brown, University Art Museum at California State University Long Beach
Saturday, October 25, 3:00 pm
Asia Society Presents! Murakami Music: Stories of Loss and Nostalgia
Saturday, October 25, 7:30 pm
Creation Station: Japanese Masks and New Year's Cards
Saturday, December 6, 1:00 pm
Noh Unmasked
Wednesday, December 10, 7:00 pm
Sake and Sumi-e
Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 pm
Heike Monogatari with Akiko Sakurai
Saturday, January 31, 7:30 pm
Asia Society Texas Center Brings Japanese Noh Mask Exhibition to Houston
Two Noh Masks will be On-Site for Visitors to Try On
HOUSTON, October 3, 2014 — Asia Society Texas Center is excited to announce its upcoming exhibition, Traditions Transfigured: The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi, on view in the Texas Center’s Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery from October 25, 2014 through February 15, 2015. Inspired by Japan’s expressive Noh theater, the masks in this exhibition apply the forms, techniques and mysterious elegance of Noh masks to iconic female portraits from the European art historical canon, and to Kabuki actor prints by Sharaku (1794-1795), Japan’s enigmatic 18th century portrait master.
“By bringing Bidou Yamaguchi’s sculptures to Houston, Asia Society hopes to share with visitors the layered conversation between tradition and innovation in contemporary Asian art,” explains Bridget Bray, Curator & Director of Exhibitions at Asia Society Texas Center. “This exhibition is the first in the region to feature his work in such depth, and we are pleased he will join us to celebrate the opening.”
Traditions Transfigured is organized into four distinct parts. The introduction sets up the exhibition, explaining what Noh theater is through video, Noh robes used in performances, and works by master Noh print artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927). The continuing legacy and power of classical Noh Theater can be seen in the second portion of the exhibition, which features Yamaguchi’s “reproduction” or utsushi masks paired with additional prints by Kōgyo. The second gallery also features masks representing different stages of the carving process and a video explaining the techniques of Noh mask making. Works from Yamaguchi’s Edo Pop series are included in the third gallery, alongside the Sharaku prints that inspired each mask. These sculptures are unique for their faithful capturing of surface details from the original prints, including their flaws and blemishes. The fourth portion of the exhibition features the artist’s European portraits series, complete with three-dimensional Noh mask-interpretations of iconic women from familiar European oil paintings, such as da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Botticelli’s Venus.
Traditions Transfigured concludes with educational and interactive components. A digital display shows a female Noh mask nodding to express different emotions, which helps visitors connect to the subtle gestures of Noh actors and their psychological effects. Visitors can also try on two masks to engage them as an actor would. Photographs of visitors’ transfigured appearances can be taken and shared through social media.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, the Texas Center will host an exciting Night Market complete with vendors, free food and a free look at the artwork on October 24 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Playing homage to the origins of Noh theater, the Night Market will center around Japan. The artist, Yamaguchi, will be attending the Night Market as well. The Night Market is sponsored by American First National Bank.
Following the October 24 opening, regular admission to this exhibition is free for Members and $5 for Nonmembers. Asia Society Texas Center is open to the public, Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. A fully illustrated color catalogue of the travelling Traditions Transfigured exhibition will be available for purchase. For more information, please visit AsiaSociety.org/Texas.
About the Exhibition
Traditions Transfigured: The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi was organized by the University Art Museum at California State University Long Beach in conjunction with Dr. Kendall H. Brown. Major support has been provided by the McLeod Family Foundation and a grant from Instructional Related Activities at CSULB.
The exhibition includes works from national and international collections, both private and public. Lenders to the exhibition include: Target Corporation; Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College; University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum; Sebastian Izzard, LLC; the Collection of Kelly Sutherlin McLeod and Steve McLeod; Alan Kennedy; and Bidou Yamaguchi.
The exhibition at the Texas Center was made possible through generous support from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Lead funding also provided by The Clayton Fund and Nancy and Robert Carney, with additional support from Nancy Allen, Anne and Albert Chao, Eagle Global Advisors, The Favrot Fund, Vivian L. Smith Foundation, Dorothy Carsey Sumner, and The Japan Foundation. Funding is also provided through contributions by Friends of Exhibitions at Asia Society Texas Center.
About Bidou Yamaguchi
Bidou Yamaguchi (b. 1970, Fukuoka, Japan) has been a Noh mask creator affiliated with the Hōshō school of Noh in Tokyo since 1998. His “reproduction” masks are in collections including Nihon University, Tokyo, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Target Corporation. He has shown his work at venues including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Portland Art Museum, and Carleton College, and has lectured widely in the United States and Europe. His Sharaku masks were featured in the Edo Pop exhibition.
About Asia Society Texas Center
With 11 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach. www.AsiaSociety.org/Texas
Download the press release here.
Multimedia: What Happens When You Depict the Mona Lisa with a Japanese Noh Mask? Asia Society Blog, February 2, 2015.
The Two-Faced Noh Mask: Tradition and Innovation. NHK World. January 14, 2015.
The Noh Masks Exhibit at the Asia Society May Give You Goose-bumps. Houston Press. January 6, 2015.
Experience an Exclusive Japanese Noh Mask Exhibition. 365 Things to Do in Houston. November 12. 2014.
Asian Connection - "The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi." KHOU Houston. November 12, 2014.
The Art of Japanese Noh Theater Masks. Houston Public Media, November 5, 2014.
He Puts A New Face on Art History. Houston Chronicle. October 31, 2014.
Archived Video
Artist Shares Inside Look at Contemporary Noh-Inspired Works. Asia Society Blog. November 24, 2014.
Traditions Transfigured: The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi was organized by the University Art Museum at California State University Long Beach in conjunction with Dr. Kendall H. Brown. Major support has been provided by the McLeod Family Foundation and a grant from Instructional Related Activities at CSULB.
This exhibition was made possible through major support from Mary Lawrence Porter, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Nancy C. Allen, Nancy and Robert J. Carney, and The Clayton Fund. Lead funding also provided by Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Anne and Albert Chao, The Favrot Fund, Kathy and Glen Gondo, Vivian L. Smith Foundation, and Dorothy Carsey Sumner. Additional support given by Nanako and Dale Tingleaf, and The Japan Foundation. Funding is also provided through contributions by Friends of Exhibitions at Asia Society Texas Center.
