French Newspaper

Mishima, Kimiyo, Newspaper-wrapped Package with Gold String, about 1973, silkscreen on stoneware, Gift of The Wise Collection, Joanne and Douglas Wise, 2011.

(Steve Briggs (Photo Courtesy Worcester Art Museum))

WORCESTER — The Worcester Art Museum will be highlighting Japanese art that merges Western trends and Japanese traditions with "Abstractions in Blue: Works from the Wise Collection."

Musashi, Atsuhiko, Japanese, born 1952, Marks, 88-9-16, 1988, painting, acrylic, gift of The Wise Collection, Joanne and Douglas Wise; gift of Atsuhiko Musashi via The Wise Collection, Worcester Art Museum.

“Abstractions in Blue invites active learning about the works’ art historical context, but also provides the chance for a meditative, reflective viewing experience in which one can consider the aesthetic harmony of these powerful works. Presented together, the works offer a sense of calm and reassurance through their color palette and aesthetic sensibilities,” said WAM’s Curator of Asian Art, Louise Virgin in a statement.

The ten works will be placed on display beginning on June 18 and running through January 11. The media of the pieces ranges from ceramics to silkscreen prints with the viewpoint of nine Japanese artists. These artists used new media to portray traditional Japanese subjects, including the beauty of the natural world and the progression and cyclical nature of time, according to a statement from the museum.

Among the ten works of art, Kimiyo Mishima's piece "French Newspaper" from around 1981 uses discarded clay and silkscreening of American newsprint to create a crumpled clay version of the newspaper. This turns the temporary newspaper into a permanent piece of art.

The artwork in the exhibit is from the Joanne and Douglas Wise Collection and are among 40 pieces that were donated to WAM in 2011. The Wises lived in Tokyo, Japan from 1978 to 1982. It is their hope that these works will help inspire even greater knowledge and appreciation of modern Japanese art, according to museum officials.