On May 10, 2017, a reception for the opening of A lonely impulse of delight, the print exhibition inspired by William Butler Yeats, was co-hosted by Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) President Kazuki Sawa and the Ambassador of Ireland, Ms. Anne Barrington.

This world travelling exhibition, dedicated to W. B. Yeats, one of the most acclaimed Irish Nobel Laureate poets and playwrights to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth, arrived in Japan to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland.

In response to the request of Ambassador Barrington that was made during her previous courtesy visits to President Sawa and former President Ryohei Miyata, Associate Professor Michael W. Schneider of the Faculty of Fine Arts took the initiative to provide artistic support for the exhibition. The Japan edition of the W.B. Yeats show was realized concurrently with Zureta / International Contemporary Printed Art, an annual exhibition and symposium by TUA’s Printmaking Laboratory.

In the exhibition, thirty-one artists who are closely associated with Ireland exhibited their works in the forms of print, photograph, and written word that they created after inspiration from W.B. Yeats’ poetry. It also shows a series of prints by students and faculty members from the Printmaking Lab and the artists Richard Gorman and Ed Miliano, which was compiled in a portfolio titled YEATS Print Collection. Both exhibitions are open to the public at the Chinretsukan Gallery of the University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, from Thursday, May 11 through Sunday, May 28, 2017.

• Irish Ambassador Anne Barrington paid courtesy visit to President Kazuki Sawa  https://global.geidai.ac.jp/e/reports/067/
• A lonely impulse of delight / W.B. Yeats Print Exhibition　https://hanga.tokyo/yeats/
• Zureta / International Contemporary Printed Art　https://hanga.tokyo/zureta/

At the exhibition preview that preceded the opening reception, President Sawa and Ambassador Barrington as well as guests enjoyed guided tours by the artists and took a close look at each piece of work.

Ambassadors from other countries were also welcomed to the reception, which started with the Celtic music performance by Kozo Toyota, a TUA graduate and Irish flute player, and the university’s Celtic Music Study Group.

Then Ambassador Barrington’s speech followed to celebrate the opening of the exhibitions and the growing bilateral bonds in arts and literature that had started even before the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. ‘I also hope that the artists in coming generations continue to be inspired by the past and by each other’s work even when distance separates them.’ Ambassador Barrington stated in her speech.

President Sawa expressed his gratitude to those who contributed to the exhibitions, which took quite long to get realized. He said ‘I sincerely hope this show is memorable to many people and promotes further artistic collaborations in music, arts, and literature between Japan and Ireland.’ Then he played the Irish tune of the Londonderry Air on the violin.

The reception and exhibitions that took place at the only national arts university served a unique opportunity to experience various forms of arts including poetry, written word, print, photography, and music while offering a vision of thriving bilateral relationships.