Our selection of this Christmas break’s must-see exhibitions include Béla Tarr’s retrospective at Centre Pompidou in Paris, Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s 150th anniversary commemorative exhibit at Tokyo’s Mori Arts Center and Eliseu Visconti’s show at the beautiful Pinacoteca museum in São Paulo.

1 TOKYO

—Kuniyoshi: Spectacular Ukiyo-e Imagination

Admired not only by art historians but also by modern-day designers, the works of Utagawa Kuniyoshi were considered visual avant-garde in the 19th century. Tokyo’s Mori Arts Center marks the 150th anniversary of Kuniyoshi’s death with an impressive selection of 420 ukiyo-e woodblock prints including recently discovered pieces, some of which have never been shown before.

Mori Arts Center Gallery. 52F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, Minato-ku,Tokyo. Open Monday to Sunday 10.00 – 20.00. Tuesday 10.00 – 17.00. Until 12 February
kuniyoshi.exhn.jp/english.html

2 SAO PAULO

—Eliseu Visconti: A Modernidade Antecipada

Celebrating the year of Italy in Brazil, the country’s oldest art museum, Pinacoteca in São Paulo, hosts an exhibition of Eliseu Visconti’s work with more than 250 paintings on display. Born in Salerno, Italy, Visconti moved to Rio de Janeiro as a child becoming one of the most important artists in Brazil until his death in 1944.

Pinacoteca. Praça da Luz, 2 São Paulo, SP. Open daily 10.00 to 17.30. The museum will be closed on Christmas day and New Year’s day. Until 26 February
pinacoteca.org.br

3 PARIS

—Béla Tarr, Integral Retrospective

The Hungarian film director has made a career of being underappreciated, although he released his first film 40 years ago and won the Silver Bear at 2011’s Berlin Film Festival, his name is still widely unknown. Educate yourself on his maverick works at the Pompidou Centre where films throughout an illustrious career will be screened. See Monocle’s Culture Calendar in the December/January issue for more details.

Place Georges Pompidou, Paris. Open daily 11.00-22.00. Closed on Tuesday. Until 2 Januarycentrepompidou.fr

4 NEW YORK

—Duncan Phyfe Master Cabinetmaker

A cabinetmaker is not the most glamorous vocation, unless of course you are Duncan Phyfe. Phyfe has been known as the most famous cabinetmaker in the US since the 19th century and now the Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosting the first retrospective of his work in 90 years. On display are pieces produced in Phyfe’s Fulton Street workshop that eventually became the site of the former World Trade Center.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York. Open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 9.30-17.30, Friday and Saturday 9.30-21.00. Until 6 May 2012
metmuseum.org

5 LONDON

—Manzoni: Azimut

For eight months between 1959-1960 in Milan the Azimut gallery was home to the work of Italian artist Piero Manzoni. Despite the brief life of the space, Manzoni achieved much. His works Achromes and the Linea series are about artist and viewer engaging in a consensual yet knowingly underwhelming cultural exchange. Manzoni’s work is currently on display at The Gagosian gallery with early experimental canvases by his friends and collaborators.

Gagosian Gallery. 17-19 Davies Street, London. Open Monday-Saturday 10.00-18.00. Until 7 January
gagosian.com