The exhibition “Ryuichi Sakamoto | seeing sound, hearing time” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is the first comprehensive showcase in Japan dedicated to Sakamoto’s large-scale installation works.
Ryuchi Sakamoto Exhibition: Through Music, Time and Space
“seeing sound, hearing time” will remain at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo until March 30th. It is undoubtedly the ultimate Ryuchi Sakamoto exhibition in Tokyo, and it is not to be missed this spring.
Who Is Ryuichi Sakamoto?
Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本 龍一 1952–2023) was a legendary Japanese composer, musician, and producer renowned for his groundbreaking work in electronic, classical, and film music.
He first gained fame as a member of the pioneering electronic band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) in the late 1970s, which helped shape the global synth-pop and electronic music scenes.
As a solo artist, Sakamoto’s diverse compositions ranged from experimental ambient works to orchestral pieces.
He won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe for his score for “The Last Emperor” (1987). Other notable film scores include “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” (1983), in which he also starred alongside David Bowie, and “The Revenant” (2015).
Beyond music, Sakamoto was an advocate for environmental and anti-nuclear causes. His influence stretched across decades, blending traditional Japanese sounds with avant-garde and contemporary styles, leaving a lasting legacy in music and activism.
Ryuichi Sakamoto Exhibition at MOT
Image credits: the author
The exhibition offers the chance to reflect on Sakamoto’s pioneering and experimental creative journey, carefully selecting his iconic works and new projects he envisioned before his passing.
Developed in collaboration with a range of visual artists, the exhibition sheds light on Sakamoto’s artistic evolution, particularly his exploration of three-dimensional sound installations – a defining aspect of his practice since the 2000s.
These installations, which merge sound, time, and space, are thoughtfully constructed throughout two floors and the outdoor space of the museum, creating a dynamic and immersive environment.
By inviting visitors to engage with sound not only as an auditory experience but as a tangible, spatial presence, the exhibition encapsulates Sakamoto’s lifelong pursuit of pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
IS YOUR TIME
The installation “IS YOUR TIME” by Ryuichi Sakamoto features a piano discovered at Miyagi Prefecture Agricultural High School after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake tsunami. Sakamoto viewed it as a “piano tuned by nature” and repurposed it into an artwork. Initially exhibited in 2017, the installation combined music from his album “async” with piano sounds generated by global earthquake data. It was accompanied by synchronized lights and speakers to create a three-dimensional sensory experience, and was displayed in various exhibitions around the world.
For the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo exhibition, Sakamoto’s intention is honored by simplifying the piece – omitting music from “async” and leaving only the piano’s natural sounds. This presentation highlights the piano as a “symbol of nature’s forces”, stripped of human intervention, performing the earth’s rumbling between sky and ocean.
async-immersion tokyo
Image credits: the author
“async-immersion” is a large-scale installation by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani, first exhibited at AMBIENT KYOTO 2023 after Sakamoto’s passing.
“async-immersion tokyo” expands on their concept of “installation music”, where music is placed three-dimensionally in a space. Inside the gallery, music from Sakamoto’s album “async” plays from fourteen high-precision speakers surrounding the viewer. An 18-meter-long LED wall displays real-time images by Takatani, based on objects from Sakamoto’s New York studio, including his piano, books, and plants.
The visuals, created from thin horizontal lines, transform slowly – like weaving fabric – into still images before dissolving back into lines. This constant shift creates a “parallel time axis” separate from the music, evoking the passage of time and leaving a deep impression on viewers through its continuous ebb and flow.
The Ryuichi Sakamoto Archive
In addition to the installations, the Ryuichi Sakamoto exhibition includes an Archive, supervised by Shigeru Matsui.
This archive provides insights into Sakamoto’s thought processes, his era, and his relationship with technology by collecting and showcasing newspapers, magazines, personal notes, and books that reflect his career and relationships throughout his life.
Ryuchi Sakamoto’s Ultimate Exhibition in Tokyo
Ryuichi Sakamoto’s latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is the latest practical embodiment of Ryuichi Sakamoto as a musician and composer and as an artist who created a new immersive environment that goes beyond the concepts of space and music.
Ryuichi Sakamoto | seeing sound, hearing time
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Until March 30th, 2025
Tickets: online booking required
Price: 2,200 yen
More reads:
- The Long-Lasting Legacy of Washi Paper and Its Influence on Japanese Life
- Sustainability in Japanese Craft: Modern Pottery Leading the Way
- Wabi-sabi: The Japanese Way of Finding Perfection in Imperfection
- Essential Guide to Japanese Indigo
Featured image: the author
