"Building Exhibition 2026: Animals in the Asaka Residence" (Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum) Opening Report: Charming Animals Hidden in Art Deco Architecture
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum opened a building exhibition highlighting animal motifs integrated into the Art Deco design of the former Asaka Residence.Summary
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum has opened its annual building exhibition, titled "Animals in the Asaka Residence." This exhibition focuses on the animal motifs—including birds, fish, and lions—that are intricately woven into the interior design of the historic, Art Deco-style former Asaka Residence, a designated Important Cultural Property. Visitors can observe how designers of the era incorporated these creatures into the modern space. Highlights include a pair of bronze lion-dogs at the entrance and Royal Copenhagen penguin figurines. A humorous note is found on the storage box for the figurines, which identifies them as "pelicans," reflecting how the Japanese public at the time attempted to categorize unfamiliar animals based on their limited knowledge.
(Source：美術手帖)