Tamura Kazuo was born and raised in 1904 in what is now Nakano Ward, Tokyo. Aspiring to be a painter, he visited the Tateshina Plateau in Shinshu when he was in his early 20s and was inspired by its grandeur. He continued to paint Japanese landscapes, particularly plateau landscapes, until his death at the age of 92. Tamura's works are distinct from realistic landscape paintings, and are endowed with an air of "solitude" and "purity," as if Tamura himself had been projected onto the canvas, making them what could be called portraits of mountains. It is likely that it was precisely because Tamura continued to create his works outdoors, even in the harsh winter, that he was able to express the aspects of nature that he sensed with his eyes, ears, skin, and heart.

This exhibition showcases Tamura's artwork spanning approximately 70 years, depicting the refreshing summer and tranquil autumn plateaus, as well as mountains he photographed all over Japan.

Tamura's works are sometimes spoken of as being similar to Japanese landscape paintings. This may be because when we look at Tamura's paintings, we can see the subtleties of each individual's life, as well as their emotions and thoughts, in the landscapes depicted. We hope you will enjoy interacting with the works in this space.