Metalwork and Peacock Room
On Friday, August 30, 2024, some participants of the Art Club took a second tour at the National Museum of Asian Art, focusing on the metalwork section, which had been recommended by the docent from the previous week. This time, Sue, who is Yuriko’s mentor, was our coordinator.
Exhibition: Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork can be seen here at this link.
We were fascinated by pieces crafted with such delicacy, like Otosuki Masakos’ “Metal in Motion” vessel, showcasing the finesse of metal forging. We also learned about the japanese version of “keum-boo” technique, Shakudô, where a gold layer is applied on metal.
Silver Plate as a special gift.
After viewing the metal work exhibit, Sue showed us a silver plate forged by kings used to gift theirs visitors with a hidden message….
Do you imagine which one it is by just looking at it?
Finally, we visited the iconic Peacock Room. A MUST SEE space for design lovers!
Janice and Esperanza were captivated by the beauty of the room and quantity of ceramics displayed, while Soledad, already familiar with the room, shared its amusing backstory of an artist left unpaid by a wealthy merchant after getting carried away with his work.
The Peacock Room is an art installation originally designed by artist James McNeill Whistler for the London home of wealthy shipowner Frederick Richards Leyland in the 1870s. Whistler was commissioned to decorate the room, but he became overly enthusiastic, painting intricate peacock motifs and significantly altering the space without Leyland’s approval.
A representation of the feud between Whistler and Leyland.
When Leyland saw the result, he refused to pay Whistler the full amount, leading to a fallout between the two. The room was later purchased by American industrialist Charles Lang Freer, who moved it to his home in Detroit and eventually donated it to the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art, where it remains today.
The room is famous for its elaborate design and serves as a testament to Whistler’s artistry and the tensions between artist and patron.
