Cherry blossom season continues on canvas at Damien Hirst exhibit in Tokyo

For those who can’t get enough cherry blossoms, check out this beautiful exhibition for a non-traditional version of “hanami” at the National Art Center Tokyo in Roppongi.

“Cherry Blossoms” by English contemporary artist Damien Hirst will have you struck in wonder at his towering paintings, first shown in Paris at the Fondation Cartier back in July 2021. The exhibit, which runs through May 23 at the museum, is the artist’s first solo show in Japan. 

Hirst describes his pieces as a mixture of abstraction and figuration and has accomplished a balance of truly aggressive, yet serene works that can be appreciated by anyone.

From afar, each canvas has a clear depiction of cherry blossom trees in peak bloom. Varying hues of pinks, reds, whites and even greens can be observed on the canvas. However, when one steps closer, the paintings become something else entirely. Flecks of textured dots become tangible between hard layers of colorful pigment.

Charged by his fascination with nature, Hirst’s scale and framing of his paintings mirror the true size of what you’d find out in the real world, making this exhibition truly immersive. The towering canvases— one of which is over 16 feet tall—are so big that they are basically “big [enough] to fall into” as Hirst describes in a video introducing the exhibit titled “Damien Hirst, Cherry Blossoms.” The video is available to watch on the event website.

The pieces are methodically placed along stark white walls of the museum’s second-floor exhibition hall.  Here you’ll find lots of space to observe and if you can snag a bench, sit back and relax to view the sakura once more this spring.

The National Art Center Tokyo itself is an architectural marvel and you’ll find yourself returning time and time again for an art fix, especially as new exhibits run every few months. The museum is child-friendly and has varying accommodations like station entrance, elevators, changing tables, lockers, and even hosts a spot for coffee or lunch.  

This was one of my favorite exhibitions of 2022 so far, and its serene paintings were a much-needed respite amongst the bustling city life of Tokyo. 

About the writer
Michele Tanabe is a writer and artist currently living in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with her 10-month-old baby and husband. She spends her time frequenting trendy cafés and the many creative spaces Tokyo has to offer. You can find Michele at her blog Shinjuku Shufu or her art Instagram MeeshlyArt.

Check out the exhibit

The Damien Hirst exhibition runs through May 23, 2022.
Address:  7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-8558
Getting there via train: To access this exhibition, take the Chiyoda Line from connecting stations and get off at Nogizaka Station. Signs labeled “The National Art Museum Tokyo’” will direct you straight out of the station and right into the museum.
Price: 1,500 yen for adults; 1,200 yen for college students; 600 yen for high school students, free for junior high school students and younger.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesdays.
Website: https://www.nact.jp/english/exhibitions/2022/damienhirst/