Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art appeared as a nationwide pioneer of public art museums on the top of a hill on the boundary between the present Tobata-ku and Yahata-ku in 1974. Five years later, Fukuoka Art Museum opened in Ohori Koen, a park for citizens to relax in the center of the city. Ever since, these two museums have continued to lead the history of art in Fukuoka by competing with each other in individuality.

 This exhibition is realized while the two museums undergo renovation. Major works from the two museums which are, in a sense, normally rivals are gathered to form an indeed “dreamlike” museum where you can enjoy works from French Impressionism to contemporary Japanese and foreign art.