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Mori Art Museum Gets a New Look
July 03, 2015
After a period of closure for remodeling, the Mori Art Museum (MAM) reopened in April with the exhibition Simple Forms: Contemplating Beauty. If you haven't had a chance to see this exhibit yet, I suggest you make a point to visit MAM soon, as it is definitely worth the trip. The exhibit's last day is Sunday, July 5.
As the name suggests, Simple Forms focuses on simple, yet very beautiful, shapes and forms. The exhibit is broken into themes, such as "Animal and Human" and "Forms of Nature." One memorable piece is Round rainbow by Olafur Eliasson. The work consists of a single spotlight in a rather dark room, and a revolving acrylic prism ring. As the ring turns, it catches and redistributes the light, casting rainbows, lines and circles on the walls of the room. It is mesmerizing in its simplistic beauty.
Another standout of Simple Forms is Ohmaki Shinji's Liminal Air Space-Time. This installation work uses fans in the floor to create constantly changing shapes with a piece of translucent, gossamer-thin fabric. Sitting on one of the stools in the exhibit room, I found myself almost hypnotized by the unpredictable movement of the fabric, almost like a plastic bag being blown in the wind. It was soothing and intriguing at the same time; I felt like I could have watched it for hours.
As for the museum itself, I didn't notice much that was different after the renovations. But a representative of MAM explained that the ceiling had been opened up and covered with angled louvers rather than solid tiles, meaning that artwork can now be hung from literally anywhere. The floor was also changed to a whitewashed wood, so as to best complement various different types of art.
The more noticeable changes are on the 52nd floor, just below the museum. There, the new Museum Cafe and Restaurant opened at the beginning of June. THE SUN is a casual café open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serving pastas, sandwiches, drinks, and some delicious desserts. Depending on the exhibitions being held at MAM and Mori Arts Center Gallery, the décor of the café will change from time to time. Next door is THE MOON, a sophisticated restaurant that serves three different course menus each for lunch and dinner, with wine pairings also available. Both THE SUN and THE MOON have tables with panoramic views of the city, which of course fill up fast. They make great places to relax and refuel after an outing at the museum!
Kelly