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A New Form of Collaboration Rooted in Art and Architecture
© 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / ARS, New York / JASPAR, Tokyo G4115
NEWS
News
February 5, 2026
DIC and the International House of Japan Launch Full-Scale Collaboration in Art and Architecture, Entering Deepening Phase
March 12, 2025
DIC and the International House of Japan Agree to Collaborate in Various Fields, Beginning with the Visual Arts and Architecture
The two parties announced the conclusion of their collaboration agreement, and that the architectural firm SANAA will design the "Rothko Room".
01 / CONCEPT
Significance of the Collaboration between DIC and the International House of Japan
Generating Impact for Both Business and Public Benefit
Through Art
Through the collaboration between DIC, a corporation, and the International House of Japan, a private nonprofit organization, we aim to demonstrate to the international community a new form of partnership where art generates impact for both business and public benefit, thereby contributing to society.
DIC operates the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art, where visitors can appreciate a collection of 20th-century artworks centered on outstanding postwar American art, along with deeply related European and Japanese works. Moving forward, DIC will fully advance support for art restoration, leveraging its expertise as a chemical manufacturer, centered on "Chemistry × Art".
The International House of Japan, featuring a main building recognized as a masterpiece of Japanese modernist architecture and a celebrated garden designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, is a unique space where art, culture, and history harmonize. It is blessed with a lush environment despite its location in the city center. Since its establishment, it has served to pioneer private diplomacy and international cultural exchange, by providing programs that promote dialogue.
DIC and IHJ have each entered into a partnership with the Rothko Chapel, a non-denominational chapel established in 1971 in Houston, Texas. The Chapel permanently houses fourteen paintings created by Mark Rothko in the final years of his life.
Internationally acclaimed as a space that transcends religion, culture, and nationality, the Rothko Chapel fosters introspection, dialogue, and reconciliation through art. It also serves as a globally significant center for social transformation, with a focus on human rights and peace initiatives.
Through this partnership, DIC and IHJ will collaborate closely with the Rothko Chapel—recognized as a central institution in the legacy of Mark Rothko—to build a robust international cultural network and further advance global cultural exchange.
- Pass DIC's collection on to future generations
- Promoting intellectual dialogue and cultural exchange in an environment where nature and architecture fuse
About DIC Corporation
DIC is one of the world's leading fine chemical manufacturers and is promoting social contribution activities based on the concept of 'Chemistry × Art.'
About the International House of Japan
The International House of Japan is a pioneer in private diplomacy and international cultural exchange in Japan. Since its establishment in 1952, it has consistently contributed to the peace and prosperity of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
02 / Rothko Room
Announcement of the "Rothko Room" Design Concept by Architectural Firm SANAA
Unveiling of the design concept for the "Rothko Room".
© 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / ARS, New York / JASPAR, Tokyo G4115
03 / CULTURE NETWORK
Partnership with Rothko Chapel
DIC and IHJ have each entered into a partnership with the Rothko Chapel, located in Houston, Texas, USA. Through this joint initiative, DIC and IHJ will collaborate with the Rothko Chapel—widely recognized as a central and symbolic institution dedicated to the legacy of Mark Rothko—to establish a new international cultural network and further advance global cultural exchange and outreach.
Representative Messages
Messages from Representatives
Representative Director, President and Group CEO, DIC Corporation
Takashi Ikeda
"We are delighted to formally launch our collaboration with the International House of Japan and the Rothko Chapel. Guided by our core principles of preserving, exhibiting, and passing on art to future generations, we aim to create diverse social value that originating from art. The newly established restoration support organization 'IACC' will operate by leveraging our expertise as a chemical manufacturer. The goal is to not only contribute to the preservation of cultural assets, but also serve as a platform for developing new technologies and solutions that contribute to the long-term development of society and culture. Even during the relocation period of the art, we will strive to expand opportunities for viewing the collection and make it accessible to as many people as possible. We will also work to further increase awareness of our activities."
Chairman, International House of Japan
James Kondo
"As the international order grows increasingly fractured, the dark shadow of war looms over the future of humanity. In these trying times, the importance of creating a space where global leaders can gather before seminal works of art, to quietly reflect, deepen mutual understanding between one another, and seek new pathways towards peace has never been greater. Speaking from a uniquely Japanese perspective, the feudal lords of Japan's historical 'Warring States'Warring States period had such a place.. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony room was regarded as a sacred, serene space where weapons were set aside, and leaders sought paths towards peace through dialogue, all while sharing tea from the same cup. In today's increasingly turbulent world, spaces such as the Rothko Chapel and the 'Rothko Room' can fulfill such a need. In our partnership with the Rothko Chapel, the International House of Japan will advance a contemporary form of 'tea ceremony diplomacy,' with the goal of fostering peace and dialogue through the power of art."
Messages
Messages from Key Partners
Mark Rothko Family
Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko
"The Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum, with its landmark collection, has been beloved by art audiences for decades. As the collection begins a new chapter in Tokyo, we are confident that its guiding values will continue to be honored and that even more visitors will have the opportunity to experience its beauty. We are especially pleased that the"Rothko Room"—an immersive and meditative space dedicated to the seven paintings from the iconic Seagram Murals series—will be recreated in the new setting."
President, Rothko Chapel
Abdullah Antepli
"This inspiring partnership embodies a shared commitment to stewardship, dialogue, and the enduring responsibility we hold toward cultural heritage. Together, we look toward a future in which art fosters mutual understanding, quiet contemplation, and lasting connections between societies across generations to come."