"Masahiko Sato Exhibition" Report: An Adventure in Thinking—Experiencing the Art of Making the Way Things Are Made

About the +ART Column

In the +ART Column, we share articles that help make art feel a little closer to home. From seasonal artist recommendations to clear, beginner-friendly explanations, we explore the appeal of art from many angles. Our aim is to offer ideas that let art settle naturally into everyday life. We hope you'll explore the world of art with us, at your own pace.

Contents

• Introduction: We visited the "Masahiko Sato Exhibition"!
• 1. Exhibition Overview: Experiencing "Making the Way of Making"
• 2. What's on View: A Series of Hands-On Installations
• 3. Highlights to Look Out For
• 4. Our Impressions from the Visit
• In Closing: An Exhibition That Makes Thinking a Joy

Introduction: We visited the "Masahiko Sato Exhibition"!

Commercials, film, educational programs, video games, installations—Masahiko Sato has created countless memorable works across genres. An exhibition that takes the very "way of making" behind his creations as its theme is now on view, marking the grand reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art.

The theme of this exhibition is, quite simply, "Making the Way of Making." How do ideas take shape inside Masahiko Sato's mind, and how do they crystallize into logic? The story behind the works—the very process of thought—comes to life through a range of hands-on exhibits.

We went to see it for ourselves, so here is our report on the exhibition's overview, highlights, and the points that caught our eye!

1. Exhibition Overview: Experiencing "Making the Way of Making"

What makes this exhibition unique is that it lets you experience "how an idea becomes form." The signature works Masahiko Sato has created over four decades—"PythagoraSwitch," "Dango 3 Kyodai," "Scone," "Malts," "Polinky," "Bazaar de Gozaru," "I.Q Intelligent Qube," "0655/2355," and more—are gathered together in one place.

Alongside them, the "thought process" behind how each work came to be is on display, letting you trace and relive the "way of making the way of making" with your own eyes.

2. What's on View: A Series of Hands-On Installations

The venue brings together the diverse body of work Masahiko Sato has been involved in. Commercials, educational programs, catchphrases, video installations—a wealth of content spanning genres is on show, but the essence of this exhibition lies in "how they came to be."

■ Content That Makes Thinking Visible

Each work is thoughtfully accompanied by the "process of making"—the background of the idea, the traces of thought during the conceptual stage, and the explanatory texts that bring it all together. You don't just look; you "feel the way of thinking." Tracing the logic and flow of ideas behind each work, you may find your own perspective expanding.

■ The Real Thing on Display: Encountering the Devices of "PythagoraSwitch"

The actual devices used in NHK's beloved program "PythagoraSwitch" are on display, letting you experience their intricate construction up close. Viewed together with the footage, you gain a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of that famous moment when "the final flag stands up"—a delight for children and adults alike.

■ Where Research and Creation Happen: The Masahiko Sato Laboratory and EUPHRATES

The trial and error and research findings from his work in university education are one of the exhibition's major highlights. Works by the laboratory Masahiko Sato leads, and by the creative collective EUPHRATES born from it, are introduced here—offering a glimpse of an experimental process where education and expression, design and logic, all converge.

3. Highlights to Look Out For

◆ An Abundance of "Hands-On Exhibits"

Rather than just "looking," the exhibits invite you to "think," "feel," and "try." Stimulating experiences await everyone, from children to adults.

Take, for example, the exhibit called "The Garden of Calculation." Here, visitors carry a number card and enter a "garden," and each time they pass through a "calculation gate" set up within it, their number changes. Doing the arithmetic in their heads, participants choose a route so that they ultimately arrive at "73." As if you yourself had become a "number," you experience the once-abstract act of "calculation" as a bodily sensation—a truly unique exhibit.

◆ The Joy of Understanding the "Way of Making the Way of Making"

From what intentions and ideas did these commercials, devices, and video content come into being? That thought process is carefully made visible, offering shifts in perspective and insights you simply can't gain from merely viewing the finished works.

◆ Don't Miss the Merchandise!—Take Home a "Fragment of Thought"

There's also a wonderful range of unique merchandise that lets you carry the lingering impression of the exhibition home with you.

For instance, there's a miniature device recreating "that contraption where the sound rings out at the very end," so familiar from NHK's "PythagoraSwitch," and the "Pythagora Mojimoji Flag" inspired by the program's signature item—irresistible treasures for fans of the show.

Among them, the one to watch is the special exhibition catalogue produced for this show. Whereas a typical art-exhibition catalogue centers on plates of the works and explanatory captions, this one is distinguished by its sheer volume of text. From what kind of thinking the works and content arose, and through what process they reached completion—this "way of making the way of making" is carefully chronicled, making it truly a catalogue to be "read."

Packed with the perspective that only Masahiko Sato, a designer of thought itself, could offer, this merchandise is sure to make you suddenly rediscover—amid everyday life—the experience of seeing, touching, and thinking.

4. Our Impressions from the Visit

How Crowded It Was

Even on weekdays, exhibits such as the video theater can involve a wait. We recommend reserving a date and time online in advance.

On a weekday afternoon, there was a bit of a wait for the exhibits where you view footage.

How Long It Takes

A quick walk-through takes about two hours; to take everything in carefully, four hours is ideal. Many exhibits allow photography, and the no-photography areas are clearly marked.

Overall Impression

Even if you don't know the name Masahiko Sato, the works on display are deeply familiar—and you'll be struck all over again by the thinking behind their creation. It's a treasure trove of creative thought that children and adults can both enjoy.

Access from the station is easy, and the museum feels spacious and airy after its renovation. With a well-appointed café and shop on site, it's perfect for a summer-holiday outing.

In Closing: An Exhibition That Makes Thinking a Joy

The Masahiko Sato Exhibition is not an exhibition for looking at works, but one for touching thought itself.

As you trace Masahiko Sato's "way of making," you'll have a special experience in which a "seed of an idea" seems to grow within you, too. After seeing the show, you'll surely come to see the world around you with a slightly different eye. Do go and experience the "way of making the way of making" in person!

📍 Event Information

Finally

What did you think? We hope this article has helped you feel a little closer to art.
Under the concept of "enjoying art," +ART provides services that let you enjoy contemporary art even more—from planning and running exhibitions to selling work through our online shop.
Focusing on talented emerging artists, we carefully select and introduce works full of individuality! With a diverse range of art including paintings, we make it easy for even first-time buyers to shop with confidence.
And to help you discover the appeal of each work more deeply, our column shares useful information such as artist interviews, tips on displaying art, and pointers for buying.
We hope it becomes a chance for art to blend into daily life and enrich your everyday.

Why not add a little art to your space?
▶ Official Site：+ART
▶ONLINE SHOP