Georges Rouault @ Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Moji

I went to Kitakyusyu; because, I wanted to board on a cool Star Flyer airplane. Star Flyer has operated the service from Haneda to Kitakyusyu; so, I had booked a round trip flight between Haneda and Kitakyusyu.

Moji ward of Kitakyusyu city has Mojiko(Moji Port), which has Moji Retro. It is actually a tourist area. You can experience 1920's atmosphere from that area.

Idemitsu Kosan was originaly established at Moji in 1911. The company has had strong relationship with the city until when the headquarters moved to Tokyo in 1940. Sazo Idemitsu, founder of the Idemitsu Kosan, was an art collector also. You can see his collection at two Idemitsu Museums in Japan. I went to one of them at Moji. It has held the exhibition of George Rouault now. I had no information about Rouault prior to get there. When I saw one of his paintings, I thought the man on the painting was Chad Kroegar from the band Nickelback. The man, Rouault was drawing, was actually Jesus Christ. That was one of his collection called "Passion." His "Passion" series were amazing paintings. The show was huge surprise for me, since I didn't expect to see such a great art show.

You can also learn the history of Idemitsu Kosan(Sazo Idemitsu) at that museum. It is interesting history, and it has the exhibition of Rouault until June 14, 2009. Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Moji
スターフライヤーの飛行機ってかっこいいなと思っていたら乗りたくなったので, 北九州まで乗ってきました。北九州市には, 門司港レトロと呼ばれる観光地域があります。そこに元々は門司で創業を開始した出光興産のやっている出光美術館門司があります。この日は、ジョルジュ・ルオーの大回顧展をやっていましたが、知識がなかったのでニッケルバックのボーカルの顔の絵をたくさん描いてるなと最初は思いました。解説を読むと、“受難”というルオーの連作の宗教画で、描かれている顔はキリストでした。なるほど、感動的で心に響く深い作品群でした。こういう絵を収集して、安い料金で実際に鑑賞させてもらえるというのはありがたいなぁとつくづく思いました。ルオー大回顧展は２００９年６月１４日まで。この美術館では出光興産の歴史も学べます。