Fresno State alumnus Richard E. Dyck donated a collection of Japanese art to the Phebe Conley Art Gallery. Dyck’s donation will be featured in the “Gifted” exhibition which is taking place at the art gallery until Feb. 6. 

“This art collection is remarkable, it’s authentic,” said Wannasarn Noonsuk, associate professor of art history. “It’s from the late 19th to early 20th century, so it has a lot of history behind it because Japan transitioned from a traditional society to a modernized country.” 

Dyck currently lives in Tokyo and has been collecting art pieces for the past 20 years. The idea to donate his collection to Fresno State came to him when he went on some trips in Japan with Noonsuk. 

Japanese and Asian subjects were not taught during Dyck’s time at Fresno State. Dyck’s goal for the art collection is to spread awareness of Asian subjects and culture within the Fresno State community. 

“Asia makes up nearly half of the population in the world,” Dyck said. “It would be a shame to grow up and not be aware of Asia.”

The art collection consists of paintings, bonsai trees, woodblock prints and illustrated books.

The artwork was created by Japanese artists Kyosai, Kyosui and Kyotei during the late 19th century to early 20th century, a transformative era in Japanese history. 

Japan was transitioning from a feudal society to a modernized one, and the artwork can be looked at as a reflection of the changes in society that occurred in terms of technology, geopolitics and cultural changes. 

The exhibition symposium will take place Jan. 22 from 8:40 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Conley Art Gallery room 101. Dyck will be featured as a keynote speaker. The reception will begin right after the symposium at the Conley Art Gallery and Courtyard from 4 -7 p.m. 

The symposium will give historical context behind the art collection in East Asia and discuss the artists’ ability to blend tradition with modern expression. 

“I would encourage students to make use of this collection because you can learn a lot about Asia and about Japan from this collection,” Noonsuk said. “It’s not very easy to go to LA or San Francisco to see real artworks and we have it here right now.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public at the Phebe Conley Art Gallery, open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students can contact Michelle Goans for questions or accommodations during the symposium through email: [email protected]