Tono Yoshiaki (1930-2005) was an art critic active after World War II. Having traveled to Europe and the United States in the late 1950s, Tono endeavored to introduce the Western "contemporary art" he encountered there to Japan. From the 1960s onwards, he supported the activities of artists of his generation, whom he called “Han Geijutsu (Anti-Art)”. Beyond writing vivid critiques incorporating his experiences at creative sites, Tono also participated in the planning of exhibitions and spent a lot of time with artists from both Japan and elsewhere. In his later years, he deepened his contemplation of water, and even produced photographic works using his hobby of skin diving.
Held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Tono's death, this exhibition will introduce his journey as an art critic, focusing on the museum's collection and materials. Being one of the critics with a particularly strong connection to the museum's predecessor, The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, Tono had a major influence on the formation of the museum's collection. Throughout the exhibition, we will look back on Tono's critiques and the art he observed.