Exhibitions

During the Edo period, various laws and prohibitions were imposed on the Japanese public. The Tenpô Reforms of 1841 forbade luxury. In 1842, a special law was enacted dealing with woodblock prints and illustrated books. Among other things, the law forbade the publication of prints depicting Kabuki actors, courtesans, geisha and eroticism, and banned the production of colour prints with more than eight colours.

In the mid-19th century, following a period of two hundred and fifty years of seclusion, Japan opened its gates to the West and trade relations with various countries were established. In addition, Japan formed a large army in order to protect its strategic interests in neighboring countries, as did many other world powers of the time.
At the end of the 19th century, Japan's territorial disputes with China on Korean soil increased and it sent troops to the region. In the early 20th century, Japan did so once again, in a similar conflict with Russia. During the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), the Japanese army fought on various fronts in Korea and in Manchuria, China.

The Japan Foundation was founded in 1972 to promote mutual understanding between different countries through cultural exchanges. As part of this program, the Foundation produced the exhibition “Winter Garden: The Exploration of the Micropop Imagination in Contemporary Japanese Art,” curated by art critic Ms. Midori Matsui. The exhibition is comprised of 35 artworks including drawings, paintings and videos by 14 artists active since the late 1990s.

Porcelain production began in Japan in the early 17th century, several hundred years after it had first appeared in China during the Tang dynasty (618–906). Although the history of pre-modern, Japanese porcelain was significantly shorter than that of its mainland counterparts, it was, nevertheless, extremely productive

Traditional ukiyo-e prints (ukiyo-e: pictures from the Floating World) were among the most important artistic achievements of the Edo era (1603-1868), whose decline began with the death of the artist Ando Hiroshige in 1858. Two contributing factors to this change were the opening of the gates of Japan to the West in 1853 and the Meiji Restoration (1868) which led, among other things, to the discovery of new artistic works. At this time, Japan was greatly exposed to the influence of European art, although there were those who recognized the need to preserve their traditional art.

Over the centuries, the tendency evolved in Japan to value small objects over big ones and this for both practical and religious reasons. Since Japan is an island nation with limited resources and dense population, the use of large objects is not practical. In addition, the Buddhist perception of minimalism had extensive impact over a wide range of Japanese art forms.

Makoto Fujimura, is a talented contemporary artist. Because of his exhibitions, writings, lectures and symposia he conducts around the world, he is regarded as a cultural designer and an inspiration for both artists and art lovers. His works are a fusion of cultures, traditional Japanese art and an abstract, expressionist, contemporary and fresh artistic approach.

The netsuke was originally a decorated accessory on a cord which attached various implements to clothing. It fulfilled an important function as the kimono, the traditional Japanese robe, had no pockets. Instead it was fastened by means of a broad sash tied around the hips on which various

Hashira-e (“pillar pictures”) are woodblock prints with specific measurements. The source of these long, narrow prints and the exact dates of their provenance are not known, but it seems that they were integrated into the hanging scrolls that were traditionally used to decorate the interior supporting beams of the Japanese house.

 A new kite exhibition for families!
40 new and spectacular kites decorated with mythical fighters, historical and mythological figures, Kabuki theater actors and more are presented at the exhibition.