「今井美術館」島根県江津市・"Imai Art Museum" Gotsu City, Shimane Pref.
2028年で創業１００年を迎える今井産業の二代目・故今井久祥社長の遺志を受け継ぎ1995 年に開館した美術館。白い土蔵造りの外観が周囲の田園地帯とよく調和している。館内には故今井久祥社長が長年コレクションした作品が展示され、その折々に応じて日本画、洋画、屏風絵、掛け軸、あるいは韓国の青 磁、白磁、三島を中心とした陶器の中から何点かを選び展示している。また企画展も積極的に行いフィギュアで有名な海洋堂の展覧会なども開催されている。なお日本画・再興院展の島根県における展覧会場でもある。
1︎⃣美術館正面左手に日本庭園がある。芝生の平庭で景石と松を主として構成された枯山水様式と言える。砂利を敷き詰めた枯れ流れが庭を蛇行しながら横断し、その上に高さ１ｍを超える大きな景石はいくつも据えられている。中央の堂々たる富士石が要となって庭に安定と秩序をもたらしている。細長く四角い帯のように刈り込まれた生け垣が庭の区切りとなり、平面的な庭にエッジの効いた立体感をもたらし退屈を排除している。後ろの松が中景となる。松は大変良く手入れされている。築山は設けず、背後の山並みを借景とし、庭は周囲の環境とよく溶け込み美しい景観を創出している。面白いのは石見焼の「鯱鉾・しゃちほこ」「大瓶・おおかめ」が景物として据えられていること。どちらも大変立派だ。趣味が合わない人もいるかもしれぬが、このような地方の特産工芸が庭に置かれるのは、ご当地および個人庭園ならではの楽しく興味深い設え。地方の芸術を知る良い機会でもある。
2︎⃣美術館の右手、今井産業本社ビルの横にもう一つの日本庭園がある。こちらも枯山水様式だが、地形を活かして背後の傾斜を築山として、その中心に巨大な安土桃山風の枯滝石組を据え三角構図の頂点とし、その左右に緩やかな裾野のようにのびる生け垣が景石を抱き込むように刈り込まれ、さながらアブストラクトアートのごとき独特の景観美を創出している。伝統的な枯山水庭園の手法に加えて現代的デザインの手水鉢に水がたたえられ庭園前景の白砂のエリアが水を表現していることを庭を見る者に思い出させる手助けをしてくれる。白砂の上には手前から築山へ向かって人工的な切石の石橋と自然形体の飛び石が左右それぞれに配されており、景観上の回遊性をもたらしている。石塔と石灯籠は伝統的、その他の石造景物はモダンデザイン。作庭された２０世紀末ころの美意識を反映した時代性のある庭園。手入れが行き届き、足立美術館が規範となる島根県ならではの管理の良い庭園。
❊2︎⃣の庭園は今井産業への許可が必要になりますので見学の際は美術館受付に申し出てください。
場合によって見学できないこともありますので事前の問い合わせをお勧めします。
◼︎名称：「今井美術館」
◼︎住所：島根県江津市桜江町川戸４７２−１
◼︎TEL：0855-92-1839
◼︎開館時間：10：00～16：00 （入館は15：30まで）
◼︎定休日：第1第3土日・祝
但・展覧会の開催による展示替えなどにより不定休有、必ず来館前に事前問い合わせのこと。
◼︎料金：５００円〜（企画展により料金が異なります）
◼︎駐車場：有り（無料）
◼︎アクセス：①自家用車での訪問 ●広島市内から車で約1時間30分・松江から車で約2時間
●旭 I.Cより県道329号線と県道41号線経由で約30分(約17km)
②公共バスでの訪問 ●石見交通バス停「桜江総合センター」から徒歩約10分。
"Imai Art Museum" Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture
Imai Corporation will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2028. Its second president, Hisayoshi Imai, was an art collector. The Imai Museum opened in 1995 to display his collection and contribute to local culture.
The exterior of the white earthen storehouse style harmonizes well with the scenery of the countryside. In the hall, works collected by President Hisayoshi Imai during his lifetime are displayed. The collection consists of Japanese paintings, Western paintings, folding screen paintings, hanging scrolls, Korean celadon and white porcelain. They are selected by the curators and displayed on a regular basis. In addition, this museum is actively holding special exhibitions, and in the summer of 2022, Kaiyodo, which is famous for figures, will be holding an exhibition. This museum is also an exhibition venue in Shimane Prefecture for Inten, a group of Japanese paintings.
1︎⃣There is a Japanese garden on the left in front of the museum. The karesansui style is composed mainly of landscape stones and pine trees in a flat lawn garden. A dry stream covered with white sand meanders across the garden, and a number of large stones over 1m in height are placed on top of the stream.
A majestic Fuji stone is placed in the center, which serves as a cornerstone and brings stability and order to the garden.
The hedges, cut into square strips, are behind the stones. They act as garden dividers. And they bring an edgy three-dimensional effect to the flat garden. They are great supporting characters in keeping boredom out of the garden.
The pine tree in the background forms the middle ground. The pine is very well taken care of. There is no artificial hill, and the mountains in the background are used as a borrowed landscape, and the garden blends well with the surrounding environment to create a beautiful landscape.
What is interesting is that the Iwami ware `` Shachihoko / Shachihoko '' and `` Large bottle / Wolverine '' are placed as decorations in the garden. Both are very good. Some people may not like those tastes, but having such local specialty crafts placed in the garden is a fun and interesting setting that can only be found in a local or private garden. It is also a good opportunity to get to know the local art of Japan.
2︎⃣There is another Japanese garden on the right side of the Imai Corporation head office building next to the museum.
This is also a karesansui style, but a three-dimensional garden with an artificial hill behind it. At the center of the artificial hill, a huge dry waterfall stone arrangement (Gorgeous style of the Azuchi-Momoyama period) is placed as the peak of a gentle triangle. To the left and right of it, the hedges that continue like foothills are pruned to embrace the scenic stones placed at key points, creating a unique scenic beauty that looks like abstract art.
A water basin of contemporary design is filled with water, which helps to remind the viewer that the white sandy area in the foreground of the garden represents the sea.
Above the flow of white sand, an artificial cut stone bridge and natural stepping stones are placed on each side from the front to the artificial hill. They provide scenic migratory properties.
The stone pagoda and stone lantern are of traditional design, while the other stone structures are of modern design. This garden reflects the aesthetic sense of the end of the 20th century when it was created.
The two gardens of the Imai Museum are wonderfully cleaned and maintained in Shimane Prefecture, where the Adachi Museum of Art is located.
Gardens ❊2︎⃣ require permission from Imai Corporation, so please ask at the museum reception when visiting.
In some cases, you may not be able to visit the museum, so we recommend that you contact the museum in advance.
◼︎Name: “Imai Art Museum”
◼︎Address: 472-1 Kawato, Sakuraecho, Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture
◼︎TEL：0855-92-1839
◼︎Opening hours: 10:00-16:00 (admission until 15:30)
◼︎Regular holiday: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
However, there may be irregular holidays due to exhibitions, so be sure to inquire in advance before visiting.
◼︎Price: 500 yen ~ (price varies depending on the exhibition)
◼︎Parking: Available (free)
◼︎Access: ①Visit by private car●About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Hiroshima city, about 2 hours by car from Matsue
● About 30 minutes (about 17 km) from Asahi I.C via Prefectural Route 329 and Prefectural Route 41
②Visit by public bus●About a 10-minute walk from the Iwami Kotsu bus stop "Sakurae General Center".