An exhibition titled 'A Renewal of Passion: The Impact of Van Gogh' opens at the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, running from May 31 to November 30. It explores Van Gogh's influence on Japanese art, featuring three Van Gogh paintings from the museum's own collection—acquired by founder Suzuki Tsuneshi—alongside loans from other Japanese institutions, including the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art and the Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts. The show highlights works by Japanese artists like Kishida Ryusei, Maeta Kanji, and Nakamura Tsune, who were inspired by Van Gogh, as well as contemporary pieces such as Fiona Tan's photographic series 'Ascent' (2016).
This exhibition matters because it sheds light on a little-known cross-cultural narrative: how Van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist, became a profound influence on Japanese modern and contemporary art, particularly through the Shirakaba group in the early 20th century. It also underscores Japan's long-standing fascination with Van Gogh, evidenced by the country's significant holdings of his work, and examines themes of passion and suffering that resonate in both Western and Japanese artistic traditions. The show's setting in the architecturally striking Pola Museum, nestled in a forested mountainside, adds a unique experiential dimension.