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malbooth

@malbooth

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Bakery and cheese room. Sydney. 🇦🇺 Travels, art, swimming, bikes.

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On my last full day in Tokyo (this visit) or Day #9, I wanted to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOT) as they had a TADA Minami exhibition "Still, shimmering light" on and they had just re-opened their permanent galleries after a re-hang. I have been to MOT several times and always enjoy their exhibitions. The building itself is impressive, designed by Takahiko Yanagisawa and has impressive spaces to show featured exhibitions and its permanent collection. I was not really sure I would enjoy Tada's work (Photos 1-9 from the exhibition & 11 from the permanent collection), but her practice is so extensive and impressive that I just became immersed in her environment of art, design and new technologies. I don't think my photos do her justice but I think you should be able to see how she uses transparency, reflection and light. Some works took my breath away. I have also included a coiuple of works from MOT's permanent collection: 10 - A Dark Night's Flashing: From the Red Darkness, 2001 by Tadanori Yokoo; 12 - Split Sphere, 1984 by Marta Pan. The other photos are of the building itself. #MOT #TADA #art #exhibition #Tokyo taken in 東京都現代美術館 (Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo) by @malbooth

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7 days ago

On Day #8 I wanted to go to Tsutaya Books, Daikanyama. It is a great store over two levels in three buildings that are joined by two bridges and covered walkways (no photography allowed there). So I took the subway to Naka-Meguro Station and walked up there via the river (first two photos). I spent quite a while there as there is so much to see and I could not resist buying some little things and gifts. They also have at least one cafe and a restaurant, so I did that too. It was raining or drizzling all day, so it wasn't easy to juggle a camera and an umbrella, hence the lack of photos. From Tsutaya Books it isn't very far to the Sarugaku shopping mall which is another cool area of interesting small buildings at street level (Photos 3-5). I watched all the hip, mostly young people for a while and then walked a short distance to Daikan-Yama Station, where I could get the subway up north to Jimbocho: the bookstore district. I went to Komiyama Books (last four photos) which has a great reputation for art and photography books and vintage magazines as well as prints, etc. It was great to browse their wonderful collection and they allowed me to take some photos, but I was also sad that I could not buy heaps of items and bring them home. I can only put the one location in below, so here are all of them: Meguro, Meguro River, Daikayama, Sarugaku and Jimbocho. taken in Jimbocho Booktown by @malbooth

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8 days ago

On Day #7 I wandered back to Ginza and bought a decent Japanese made kitchen knife. Then I took a stroll in the daylight to see a few stunning buildings again in the daylight. Without doubt, the star of this show was Kayanoya Ginza (Photos 1-6) by Kengo Kuma and Associates. I've been inside a number of Kengo Kuma's buildings in Tokyo, e.g. the Museum of Narratives in Takanawa (which has many similarities to the Darling Harbour Library he designed in Sydney). They all reflect his objective for transparency by using light and natural materials and I think his buildings truly reflect the grace and subtle beauty of the Japanese aesthetic. It stands out, especially in Ginza where there is so much glass, shiny metal and glitz. So, to the other buildings: TAG Heuer; Chanel reflecting Bulgari; Bulgari; V88 (I really like this); Giorgio Armani in context; Maison Hermès Le Forum; Mizuho Bank; Maison Hermès (again); Taimei St.; a corporate office tower on Miyuki-dori St; and my old friend Tokyo Tower lit up by the afternoon sunlight. taken in Ginza Tokyo by @malbooth

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9 days ago

This photo was also taken on Day #6, from my hotel room looking north west (ish) during blue hour. It is a long exposure of about 24 seconds and it is a really beautiful view that I enjoyed every night and I am missing it already. #Tokyo #LeicaQ343 #longexposure #bluehour taken in The Okura Tokyo ウエディング by @malbooth

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10 days ago

This is the "horizontal" night lights of Ginza post for Day #6. Here we go: Sukiyabashi traffic; Tiffany & Co. flagship street level; the Wako Building / Seiko House; Tiffany & Co. near Matsuya; Ginza Sony Park, Sukiyabashi; Sukiyabashi crossings; and Sukiyabashi between Cartier & Maison Hermes. I enjoyed taking these photos! taken in Ginza Tokyo Japan by @malbooth

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10 days ago

On Day #6 I also went out at night to photograph some of the fascinating buildings of Ginza that are lit up in the evening. (There will be two posts: one vertical or portrait format and the other either square or horizontal.) This one is for the "towers". Here we go then: Ginza Place; Bottega Veneta; Maison Hermes; Chanel; Tiffany & Co.; UNIQLO; Chuo-Dori St.; Hublot & Loro Piana; V88; Mikimoto; Cartier; and Maison Hermes & Ginza Sony Park, Sukiyabashi. taken in Ginza Tokyo by @malbooth

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10 days ago

I had to post this, it is such a wonderful view from the club lounge of The Okura Hotel, Tokyo. On Day #6 I returned for a rest after wandering around Omotesando and came up to the lounge for a drink and some food. The sun was just starting to hit this view that is looking south east from the hotel. I love all the detail captured by this photo. You can see right out to Tokyo Bay. It is amazing what can be captured in 1/400th of a second. #LeicaQ343 #cityscape (There is a higher resolution image on my Flickr account.) taken in The Okura Tokyo ウエディング by @malbooth

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10 days ago

This is Tameike-sannō Station, near my hotel. I used it a fair bit, so felt I should post a photo. #subway #train #slowshutter taken in Tameike Sanno by @malbooth

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10 days ago

On Day #6 I wandered around Omotesando looking at interesting buildings, streets and some shops. There will be a second post for the night time photos. Photos: 1 Prada Tokyo Aoyama; 2 Miu Miu; 3 Yoku Moku; 4 Boss & Bottega Veneta; 5 Loro Piana; 6 random courtyard; 7 near the Leica Store; 8 on Cat St.; 9 just off Cat St.; 10 SIX Harajuku Terrace; 11 Aoyama St. Grace Cathedral; 12 DRAFT building. Over the course of the day I called into Leica, Paul Smith, Psych Bunny and Imabari and then I went back to my hotel for a little rest. taken in Omotesando by @malbooth

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10 days ago

This post covers Day #5 in Tokyo. I walked in light rain down to The National Art Centre where there were two shows: Masterpieces of the Renaissance from the Musée du Louvre and Picasso, through the Eyes of Paul Smith. Photography was not allowed in the Louvre exhibition. Mostly not my thing anyway (apart from Titian's Portrait of Francis I of France, c. 1538). Paul Smith's Picasso show was brilliant! Photos 1-6 (Picasso): Guitar, gallery shot, Portrait of André Derain, Paul as Harlequin, Seated Woman with Hat, and Portrait of a Woman in a Pom-Pom Hat and Patterned Blouse. Then after lunch in Midtown I walked over to the Take Ninagawa gallery in Higashiazabu to see a Man Ray show. Photos 7-10 (Man Ray): Peinture à Poignées or Mythologie Moderne; group incl. Chess Set, Giant Chess Set, Ballet Français, Permanent Attraction, and Cadeau; Cadeau (close up); and Natural Painting. After that I walked back to my hotel in more light rain for a rest. taken in The National Art Center, Tokyo by @malbooth

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11 days ago

On Day #4 I travelled up to Ueno, initially to see Edo in Focus - Japanese Treasures from the British Museum at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. As advised, I'd purchased a ticket online in advance, but when I arrived I still had to spend well over an hour fuming in line awaiting entry with a massive crowd (even though it was well into their opening hours). Photography was not allowed at all, but when I did gain entry I could not see anything as the crowds in front of what were mostly low display cases were 4-5 people deep and moving hardly at all. It was the worst museum exhibition experience I have ever had anywhere. There should have been timed entry and some attempt at crowd management. After escaping this mess, I wandered down to The National Museum of Western Art (also in Ueno Park). They have a great permanent collection and had put together a temporary exhibition of about 19 works "Upon the Centennial of Claude Monet’s Death". It was not crowded so there was plenty of time and space to view everything in a building designed by Le Corbusier. There are some great sculptures in the courtyard leading to the museum's entry. Photos: 1 & 2 are The Thinker and Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin | 3-5 are Waterloo Bridge in London, and two Water Lilies by Claude Monet | 6 is Roses by Vincent van Gogh. After this I walked from Ueno to the wonderful Kakimori stationery store (last photo is from that walk). They make their own pens, nibs, inks, journals, etc. I needed some ink and I always wind up there when in Tokyo. From there I had a short wander around in Kuramae, a trendy area of cafes, bars, design studios and craft workshops. taken in 国立西洋美術館 National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo by @malbooth

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11 days ago

Day #3 in Tokyo was clear and sunny. It was also a Monday and most museums close on Mondays, so I took a day trip down to Kamakura on the JR Yokosuka Line. This seems simple enough, but it was a really hot day, there were major delays on the train line and about seven squillion others had the same idea, so it was a crowded day. From Kamakura Station it is easy to find the local bus to the Yomyoji bus stop and then it is a short stroll to the Hokuji Buddhist Temple (Photos 1-4) that dates back to the 1300s. The main hall was rebuilt in the 1920s after the Great Kanto Earthquake. It is perhaps best known for its beautiful bamboo grove and well kept gardens. After that I hopped on the bus and returned to Kamakura township and took a quick look at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū Shrine (Photo 5) before walking down the cute but crowded Komachi Dori (Photos 6-8). Once back at the main Station I found the tramway that takes you down to the beaches as I wanted to get a shot of Mt Fuji from Shichirigahama Beach. Unfortunately, by then the cloud cover had moved in and Mt Fuji was not visible (Photo 9), doh! I took the train back to Tokyo later in the day and asked some of the hotel staff whether I would've seen Mt Fuji earlier that day from my room on the 40th floor as it was so clear and they assured me I did, so there it is in Photo 10 peaking out to the right of a tall glass building. taken in Kamakura, Japan by @malbooth

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11 days ago