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David Bowie theme cafe: Ginza, Tokyo. Alphonse Mucha art nouveau exhibit, Roppongi Mori Museum.

david bowie restaurant, bowie theme cafe, tokyo david bowie vinyl records

I rarely hang out in Ginza or Roppongi, the ritzy Tokyo districts. However, I ventured here for two of my heroes.. David Bowie and Alphonse Mucha (glam rock guru and Art Nouveau master). Read on for glorious photos, including a Mucha x Innocent World Lolita collaboration!

david bowie cafe, ziggy stardust, record covers, bowie signed albums

Japan is all about theme dining, as you know from my TV work and book, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo. To celebrate David Bowie’s new album The Next Day, Sony turned a regular restaurant into a Thin White Dukedom.

pub cardinal, sony building, ginza david bowie cafe, tokyo theme restaurants

From March 9-24, the Sony Building transformed its Pub Cardinal (1F, 5-3-1 Ginza) into the David Bowie Cafe.

david bowie tokyo, changes album, bowie restaurant, tokyo japan glam rock

Autographed album covers, from the Ziggy era to today, filled every available space.

japanese restaurant diners, japanese salarymen, business men lunch, sony tokyo japan, japanese business suits

Quite a few Japanese businessmen dine here. For a Bowie twist, the restaurant served British dishes like shepherd’s pie.

chef menu, chalkboard, david bowie lunch, fan meetup

The cocktails are named after Bowie’s songs: Cat People, China Girl, The Man Who Fell To Earth.

david bowie old photos, photo exhibit, bowie vinyl records

My favorite part of the pop up? Listening to non-stop Bowie music. (See my 6-second Vine video for a sense of the interior). The David Bowie Cafe closes on March 24, so I hope you’ll catch it before it’s gone.

mori museum spider sculpture, maman spider statue, louise bourgeois, Roppongi Hills complex, giant spider sculpture

Let’s transition with a… Spider from Mars? Nope, this creepy-crawly sculpture is “Maman” by Louise Bourgeois, in the Roppongi Hills Complex.

mori art museum, tokyo city view, roppongi hills complex, mori museum roppongi, alphonse mucha art exhibit

As you can tell from this blog’s header, I adore Alphonse Mucha (best known for his swirly, pastel, Art Nouveau innovations). His works are very popular among the Japanese. Thankfully, I was in town when “An Insight into the Artist” came to the Mori Art Museum (Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 52F, 6-10-1 Roppongi).

alphonse mucha lady, art nouveau, mucha posters, art nouveau gifts

The exhibit had over 240 works by the Czech artist, including rare sketches and jewelry designs.

alphonse mucha postcards, poster designs, art nouveau posters, moet and chandon mucha

Some of his best known works, like the absinthe ads and Sarah Bernhardt posters, were on display. Marvelous to see them life-size — I could make out subtle details, like soft rainbow gradients in the swirls, and the silver sheen of “La Dame aux Camélias”.

alphonse mucha seasons, art nouveau females, mucha art exhibit tokyo

The gallery ran chronologically, from his earliest paintings, to Art Nouveau masterpieces like The Seasons, to his final religious and patriotic works.

Mori Arts Center Gallery, Alphonse Mucha: An Insight into the Artist, roppongi art museum

Look what was in the gift store: an Alphonse Mucha collaboration with Lolita label Innocent World! The brand released a limited-edition skirt and dress, featuring pastel prints.

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These Mucha ladies tights were immediately in my possession.

alphonse mucha clothing, gothic lolita tokyo, innocent world mucha, star jewelry, art nouveau print fabric

In addition to the usual postcards and books, there were special items like Star Jewelry.

pansonworks, alphonse mucha kawaii, chibi, art nouveau stationery

But these “kawaii” versions of the Mucha girls turned out more “kowai”, or scary!

yayoi kusama, self portrait, kusama pumpkins, mori museum exhibit

The Mori Museum is a personal favorite; it has a sky view of Tokyo, and ever-changing exhibitions of artists like Yayoi Kusama.

alphonse mucha daughter, Jaroslava portrait, mucha painting, woman in turban

I don’t think Alphonse Mucha ever dreamed his “Jaroslava” (a portrait of his daughter) would be in the Tokyo subway! The showcase runs until June 15; it’s well worth a visit for insight into the artist’s creative process.

Are you fascinated by Art Nouveau? Mesmerized by David Bowie? Which artists and musicians do you admire, and why?

32 Comments

  1. Diana
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 2:58 am | Permalink

    you have good taste!

  2. Kyoko
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 3:03 am | Permalink

    must go to this David Bowie Cafe!

  3. Heathyr
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 3:57 am | Permalink

    OMFG OMFG OMFG!!! You are taking me!

  4. sunsentinello
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:01 am | Permalink

    I wish they keep it open for me!!!! Love your blog. Keep the good stuff coming.

  5. Hannah
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:01 am | Permalink

    love this!

  6. TS
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:02 am | Permalink

    CUTEST

  7. Tahlia
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:09 am | Permalink

    Hahaha amazing!

  8. Carmen
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:09 am | Permalink

    <3 Bowie!!!!!

  9. Valeree
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:28 am | Permalink

    Hmmmnnn no, not this one. I don’t like Bowie.

  10. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 6:46 am | Permalink

    Bowie Café is a must! XD

  11. Marie-Claire
    Posted March 22, 2013 at 4:57 pm | Permalink

    I’ll be there in a few weeks and I’ll be sure to go!

  12. Liz
    Posted March 23, 2013 at 11:26 pm | Permalink

    I wish we had one in L.A.

  13. Relita
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 1:22 am | Permalink

    How cool. And what a beautiful website

  14. Alyssa
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 1:22 am | Permalink

    I NEED that dress. I wish it came in plus size.

  15. Fred
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 1:23 am | Permalink

    Glad you enjoyed the exhibit!

  16. Carla Rodriguez Vargas
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 2:12 am | Permalink

    Lovely <3
    The two places!

    • lacarmina
      Posted March 27, 2013 at 9:33 pm | Permalink

      Glad you enjoyed this post! More from Tokyo coming up :)

  17. bart
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 4:31 am | Permalink

    :-) great!

  18. Chi
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Permalink

    oh! cool pictures!! :) thanks ♪

  19. Shelly
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Permalink

    :D

  20. Zoe
    Posted March 24, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Permalink

    Gracias :)

  21. Marieth
    Posted March 25, 2013 at 4:08 am | Permalink

    Nicee!! =)

  22. Ana Lucia Machado
    Posted March 26, 2013 at 6:38 pm | Permalink

    I also love them both, Bowie and Mucha!

    • lacarmina
      Posted March 27, 2013 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

      Yesss two of my heroes!! And both are popular in Japan.

  23. melissa
    Posted March 26, 2013 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

    Love both, but saw the Mucha exhibit in the US and it was awesome and when I was at the Mori Art Museum several years ago I thought it was really cool so I has to be a unforgettable experience.

    • lacarmina
      Posted March 27, 2013 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

      It was my first time seeing Mucha’s works in person. I thought the Mori museum did a great job of curating his designs. :)

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