Legendary Sweets Art Exhibition Returns! Osamu Watanabe's Kingdom of Sweets II" to be held at Takasaki Museum of Art for the first time in 10 years

Osamu Watanabe, an artist who creates installations and contemporary art works using colorful and elaborate creams, candies, and fruits that look just like the real thing, will hold the exhibition "Osamu Watanabe: The Kingdom of Sweets II" from June 29 (Sat) at Takasaki Museum of Art [Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture].

Exhibited work "Merry-Go-Round of Sweets

Osamu Watanabe's legendary exhibition "Osamu Watanabe: The Kingdom of Sweets," which drew 15,000 visitors 10 years ago, will return!

Osamu Watanabe is a contemporary artist who has sublimated the art of sweets decorating using "sweets" made from resin and other materials that look just like the real thing into an art form. Kingdom of Sweets" at the Takasaki Museum of Art in 2014 attracted 15,000 visitors and attracted a lot of attention. Since his solo exhibition in 2014, Osamu Watanabe has continued to be actively involved with Takasaki, including consecutive entries in Art Project Takasaki organized by Takasaki City, appearances on Radio Takasaki, and collaborations with Daruma doll craftsmen.

The exhibition, which is now 10 years old and more powerful in scale, uses colorful "sweets" such as whipped cream, macaroons, and candies that make you want to eat them, and includes a 3-meter-long merry-go-round of sweets, a 4-meter-long 50-centimeter-long dragon of sweets, and a 25-meter-long 25-centimeter-long The works will be on a grand scale, including a 3-meter-long confectionary merry-go-round, a 4m50cm-long confectionary dragon, and a 25-meter-long confectionary aquarium. The exhibition also includes a corner introducing works created through the relationship with Takasaki City, and is the culmination of Osamu Watanabe's activities in Takasaki since 2014.

Related Events

I. Osamu Watanabe Gallery Talk

Dates (1)Saturday, June 29

　　　(2) August 11 (Sun)

Time: 2:00 p.m. on each day

Venue: Takasaki Museum of Art Exhibition Room

Admission: Free (admission fee required, advance registration required)

II. Osamu Watanabe Workshop "Daruma x Sweets Deco

Takasaki Daruma is the most famous Daruma doll in Takasaki. Why don't you make your own original sweets deco Daruma with happy sweets deco?

Schedule ：August 11 (Sun.)

Time ：10:00 a.m.

Lecturer ：Osamu Watanabe

Place ：5F Lecture Room, Takasaki City Minami Community Center

Application ：Reservation required

Material fee: 500 yen

Capacity ：20 people (reservations on a first-come, first-served basis / children under 2nd grade are to be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

III. Guest talk by Osamu Watanabe and Hitomi Okada

Sweets x Nendoroid: Creating a delicious space

The two creators of delicious space will talk with Hitomi Okada, who is active on TV as "Nendoroid's sister".

Date & Time: July 14 (Sun.) from 2:00 p.m.

Guest: Hitomi Nendor Okada

Place ：Takasaki Museum of Art Exhibition Room

Admission: Free (admission fee required; advance registration required)

Applications and reservations for both events will be accepted by phone at the Takasaki Museum of Art (027-324-6125) from 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 14. Please check the website or SNS for the latest information as the event may be changed or cancelled.

Takasaki Museum of Art Website

https://www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp/site/art-museum/

Comment by Osamu Watanabe

Since the "Osamu Watanabe: Kingdom of Sweets" exhibition was held at the Takasaki Museum of Art 10 years ago in 2014, I have been actively involved with Takasaki, including presenting a huge installation at Art Project Takasaki. I am grateful to the people of Takasaki for their openness to art and their acceptance of any kind of artwork I create, such as turning the pedestrian deck in front of the station into a shortcake and constructing a candy castle keep at the ruins of Takasaki Castle. I am truly happy to be able to hold a solo exhibition in Takasaki again after 10 years. Whether you came to the Kingdom of Sweets 10 years ago or are discovering the Kingdom of Sweets for the first time, we look forward to seeing you there.

About Osamu Watanabe

Osamu Watanabe graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 2003 with a degree in design. He has been featured on "Tokyo Kawaii TV" (NHK) and "Tetsuko's Room Special" (TV Asahi) as a leading artist who has sublimated the art of sweet decorating. His colorful and elaborate sweets art works, which look just like the real thing, have been attracting attention in Japan and around the world. In Japan, "Osamu Watanabe Museum of Sweets" at Haruhi Museum of Art in Kiyosu City (Aichi Prefecture) and "Osamu Watanabe Exhibition Sweets Wonderland -An Amusement Park of Sweets-" at Hofu City Community Center Aspirato (Yamaguchi Prefecture) have broken records in terms of the number of visitors since their opening.

Osamu Watanabe's homepage: http://watanabeosamu.tokyo

Outline of the exhibition

Osamu Watanabe - Kingdom of Sweets II

Osamu Watanabe - Kingdom of Sweets Returns

Dates: June 29, 2024 (Sat) - September 1, 2024 (Sun)

Closed: Mondays and the weekdays following national holidays [Closed: July 1 (Mon), 8 (Mon), 16 (Tue), 22 (Mon), 29 (Mon), August 5 (Mon), 13 (Tue), 19 (Mon), 26 (Mon)].

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Fridays only.

　　　　　(Admission until 30 minutes before closing)

　　　　　Former Residence of Fusaichiro Inoue] 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

　　　　　Garden] 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Admission until 30 minutes before closing)

Admission: 600 (500) yen for adults, 300 (250) yen for college and high school students

Group discount rates for groups of 20 or more people are shown in parentheses ( ).

Show the Internet discount coupon and up to two people can see the exhibition for the price in parentheses ( ).

Persons with a Physical Disability Certificate, Rehabilitation Certificate, or Mental Disability Certificate and one accompanying person

and one accompanying person may view the exhibition free of charge. Please present your identification book or the application "Mirailo ID" at the reception desk.

Persons 65 years of age or older may view the exhibition free of charge. Please present proof of age (my number card, driver's license, insurance card, etc.) at the reception desk.

*University and high school students may view the exhibition at the university and high school student rates. Please present your student ID card at the reception desk.

Junior high school students and younger may view the exhibition for free.

Sponsor/Venue: Takasaki Museum of Art

Cooperation: Osamu Watanabe Atelier, galleryUG

Press Preview】】We will hold a press preview on June 28, 2024.

Friday, June 28, 2024, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Commentary on the works by the artist 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.