Period:
2023.10.28(Sat.) - 2023.11.3(Fri.)
10:00-18:00
Event Overview
Although Kanazawans are often thought to have a fondness for tea ceremony and Japanese sweets, the rate of chocolate consumption in the city is among the highest in Japan. In recent years, due in part to the emergence of young chocolatiers who are producing highly distinctive chocolate, Kanazawa’s food culture has assumed even greater depth. Through displays of crafts related to chocolate, a food that is beloved by people throughout the world, curator-guided gallery tours with sign-language interpretation, and other events, this exhibition, That Which Bears the Supreme Name of Chocolate, conveys the charms of Kanazawa, the Town of Chocolate.
Exhibition Summary
The scientific name for the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao (named by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus) is derived from a Greek word meaning “food of the gods.” Cacao, which originated in the highlands of Central and South America, can be traced back to the Mayans, who flourished in Guatemala prior to the Common Era, and the Aztecs, who inhabited what is today Mexico. Cacao was so valuable that it boosted the status of money. Later, in the 17th century during the Age of Exploration, cacao was introduced to Europe by the Spanish, and gradually took hold as a luxury item and nutritional drink among court nobles and the social elite. Cacao was combined with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and other ingredients to make chocolate, which came to be seen as a nec plus ultra (“nothing further beyond”). This led to greater availability, from the upper classes to common people, and in the modern era, chocolate grew even more widespread, making it a beloved food among people all over the world.
In this exhibition, we examine the introduction of cacao as seen in rare books and documents from Japanese collections, and while tracing the history and culture of the seed’s acceptance, we also showcase works of contemporary art related to chocolate and crafts that bear a resemble to chocolate. We are also pleased to present the works of Stéphane Leroux, who uses unique techniques to incorporate chocolate into his artistic creations, for the first time in Kanazawa. Chocolate is available in a diverse array of types, enabling us to choose the variety we want based on our individual taste. It is a valued gift that brings joy both to the giver and to the receiver. Chocolate provides us with an opportunity to give something special and also to take part in a form of contemporary gift giving.
Kurosawa Hiromi
Chief Curator
The 38th National Cultural Festival The 23rd National Art and Cultural Festival for Persons with Disabilities Ishikawa Hyakumangoku Cultural Festival 2023 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Special Exhibition