Harada Hikaru
Director of the Iwate Museum of Art

I took over the position of Director of this museum following the retirement of Director Sasaki Hideya. I would like to put my effort into enriching this museum and making it feel even more comfortable. In order to accomplish my goal, I will need the know-how and support of many people. I thank you in advance for your help.

 

I was raised in Aichi prefecture, then lived in Kanagawa prefecture and Tokyo while working for museums and art magazines. Now I am 62 years old, which is a little old. I remember the first time I visited Iwate prefecture, it was the late summer of 1971. A painting by Yorozu Tetsugoro was displayed below a window in a wood-paved hall by the castle. I fell upon this painting by chance. I have been visiting Iwate prefecture ever since to see Yorozu Tetsugoro’s art works. There are great pieces by Yorozu Tetsugoro, Matsumoto Shunsuke, and Funakoshi Yasutake at this museum. I shall treasure these great art works, and also use these as a starting point to expand knowledge and show the world the meaning of “modernism” in Iwate prefecture. I will improve and create innovative exhibitions, and also expand the number of collections.

 

Many people may think it is a hassle to run a museum when the world is going through a serious economic recession. Indeed, it may not the best time to run a museum. However, art is a creative activity that human beings have inherited for millions of years. Creation has always brought happiness and vitality throughout the times. I feel that everybody needs such a human-specific outlet right now. Children, people with disabilities, seniors, everyone, let’s discover the happiness of life. Let’s create a source of “joy de vivre”. I believe that the role of the museum is to promote the power of creation. I hope that the Iwate Museum of Art becomes treasured by everybody.

 

 

About Iwate Museum of Art

 

Iwate Museum of Art was opened in October 2001. The museum is characterized by collections of art created by local artists such as Yorozu Tetsugoro, Matsumoto Shunsuke, and Funakoshi Yasutake. We are planning to expand our collections displayed, hand down such art to the locals as their shared heritage, and at the same time, present and preserve masterpieces. In order to make our museum even more appealing, we also plan to come up with activity programs that people of a wide age range can enjoy. Our website provides information on events, and you can enjoy some of our collections in high-quality pictures, as well as search our collections from different perspectives on our collection search page. We hope you enjoy the Iwate Museum of Art webpage.