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Manggha (full name Centre of Japanese Art and Technology "Manggha") is a branch of the National Museum in Cracow.
History
[edit]In 1920 Feliks Jasieński - critic, writer and collector of art - donated his collection of pieces of art connected with Japan to the National Museum of Cracow. After his death the collection was not exhibited (one of the reasons was lack of space, the number of items was over 6500). The only one exception was the exhibition in Cloath Hall of Cracow in 1944. Young Andrzej Wajda (he was then 19) saw that exhibition and became fascinated by Japanese art.
In 1987 - almost half a century later - Andrzej Wajda received film award in Kyoto. He decided to donated whole amount of money to the National Museum of Cracow to build a brand new building in which the entire collection could be exhibited.
Andrzej Wajda was supported by local authorities, City of Cracow and the government of Japan (special help of Ambassador Nagao Hyodo). The East Japan Railway Workers' Union (with president Akira Matsuzaki) gave around one million dollars to fundation Kyoto-Kraków created by Andrzej Wajda and friends.
The building was designed by Arata Isozaki - celebrated Japanese architect. The project of the building was given to the Foundation by its author as a gift. It is a modern object corresponding with ancient art of Japan. Inside the building there are exhibition and conference rooms. Besides the permanent exhibitions the Centre organises temporary ones (most of them connected with Japanese art, culture and technology). In addition, the Centre organizes courses of tea brewing, Ikebana and Japanese language. Manggha is a headquater of Polish Bonsai Club.
Manggha was opened on December 30, 1994.
In 1997 Manggha received Special Award of Japanese Foundation.
On July 11, 2002 Manggha was visited by Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko. On request of the Emperor exhibition of woodcuts of great Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige had been prepared. The Emperor and his wife gave an audio-visual equipment to the Centre (for school of Japanese language).
In 2006 was chosen as one of twenty most interesting architectonic object in Poland after 1989 in competition "Polska.Ikony architektury" ("Poland.Icons of Architecture").