Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2011

Miwa Yanagi, Series of Fairy Tale/Gretel, 2004, gelatin silver print

Izumi Kato, Untitled, 2006, oil on canvas

With the opening of the Mori Art Museum and National Art Center, Tokyo, smaller galleries like the Hara and Watari-um have been facing some serious competition. But the cozy Hara is always worth a visit—both for the atmospheric mansion in which it is housed, and for the trend-spotting taste of director Toshio Hara. The current show delves deep into the museum’s collection, offering a chance to assess its efforts to support emerging artists over the past three decades. Among the talents on display who have become household names in the contemporary art world are Yasumasa Morimura, Yoshitomo Nara and Tabaimo.

Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Be Alive! Selections from the Hara Museum Collection. Various media. Until May 8, ¥500 (elem, MS)/¥700 (HS, univ)/¥1,000 (adult). 4-7-25 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku. Open Tue-Sun 11am-5pm (Wed until 8pm), closed Mon. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. www.haramuseum.or.jp