[Fukuoka] Tomonori TOYOFUKU Exhibition , May 15th(Sat) ― May 30th (Sun), 2021

Tomonori TOYOFUKU Exhibition
May 15th(Sat) ― May 30th (Sun), 2021
10:00am-6:00pm (Open every day during the event)
Venue: MIZOE ART GALLERY FUKUOKA

Two years ago on 18th May 2019, Mr. Tomonori TOYOFUKU passed away. I received a call in the early morning. When I got his home, he was resting with a calm face surrounded by his artworks and favorite antiques. He was at the age of 94.
Mr. TOYOFUKU did not speak much since we met for the first time. However, his silence made me feel something he did not tell. He was once on the edge of death as a suicide pilot soon before the war ended. Although he lived the following 40 years in Milan, Italy, he aimed to live as a Japanese more than anyone else. The emotion put into each carving seems to talk to us sitting dignifiedly like their father.
On the third anniversary, we would like to praise the great achievements of this world-famous sculptor. This exhibition focuses on the wood sculptures left at his atelier displaying them together with the bronze works and drawings.
We are waiting for your visit.
Kazunobu Abe, Mizoe Art Gallery



Tomonori TOYOFUKU
1925 Born in Fukuoka, Japan
1959 Received the 2nd Kotaro TAKAMURA Prize
1960 Participated the 30th Venice Biennale, Moved to Milan and set up an atelier, Italy
1964 Received the William Frew Memorial Prize: Carnegie International Art Exhibition, Pittsburgh
Participated the 32nd Venice Biennale
1970 Participated Contemporary Trends, Expo Museum of Fine Arts, Osaka
Participated the Carnegie International Art Exhibition, Pittsburgh
1977　Commissioned work “Drifting 1977” for Kitakyusyu Municipal Museum of Art. Fukuoka
1978 Solo exhibition at Kitakyusyu Municipal Museum of Art, Fukuoka
Received the grand prize of the 10th Japan Arts Award
1983 Commissioned work “Sekiseitei” for Kurume-city Central Park
Received the special prize of the 3rd Henry Moore prize exhibition, The Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum
1990 Received the 31st Mainichi Arts Award
1993 Received Medal with Purple Ribbon from Cabinet Office, Government of
1994 Solo exhibition at Mitaka City Gallery of Art, Tokyo
1996 Commissioned work “Nanotsuoukan” for Hakata Port, Fukuoka
2005 Received the 13th Fukuoka prefecture Cultural Award
2019 Passed away on May 18th

Collection
National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rome Italy
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Mitaka City Gallery of Art, Tokyo
The Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum, Nagano