Everyone has used “Cray-pas” (oil pastel) when they were children. Cray-pas was invented in Japan in 1925 as a painting material equipped with the merits of both wax crayons and pastels. It adheres well to painting surfaces, is unrestrained while offering good color development, and can be used for a wide range of artistic expressions in the same way as oil painting, such as color blending, layering, and scratching. As Cray-pas was widely used as a teaching material in schools, we tend to think of it as a tool developed exclusively for use by children. However, its excellent features drew the attention of many artists soon after the Second World War, when there was much difficulty in procuring oil paints. Hence, Cray-pas was gradually incorporated into mediums of artistic expression as a unique drawing material in its own right.

This exhibition presents pieces from the painting collection of the Sakura Art Museum, featuring the works of contemporary artists with a focus on the masters who were active on the Japanese art scene during the Taisho and Showa eras, including artist Kanae Yamamoto who was closely involved in the development and popularization of the Cray-pas. We invite all to come and appreciate these attractive Cray-pas works created by more than 100 masters.