Imagery: Traditional Japanese prints go on display

Exhibition showcases silkscreen, photo etching and lithography.

ISLAMABAD:

An exhibition offering glimpses of the vibrant Japanese art scene went up on display at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Thursday.

Titled “Evolving Imagery: Ukiyo-e and contemporary prints from Japan”, the exhibition showcases an assortment of techniques such as silkscreen, lithography, and photo etching.

Ukiyo-e, which means “pictures of the floating world” in Japanese language, represents a genre of woodblock prints and paintings that flourished in Japan from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Belonging to the Edo era, the art form typically depicts beautiful women, kabuki theatre, scenery from history, folk tales and travel.

The exhibition features a total of 22 contemporary prints in the post-modern era. The participating contemporary artists are Ikeda Ryoji, Reika Iwami, Kimura Hideki, Maihara Katsunori, Nagai Kenji, Nakabayashi Tadayoshi, Noda Tetsuya and Yoshihara Hideo.

Sabah Hussain, curator of the show, said, “The exhibition is an attempt to provide insight into the rich and dynamic tradition of graphic arts and their reinvention in Japan, enriching our perception of contemporary prints in the post-modern era in Japan.”

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata inaugurated the exhibition.



The minister underscored the promotion of art and literary exchange in the country. The ambassador said, “The artistic and technical caliber is consistently remarkable. Reading the images demands an extremely high level of visual, textual, and cultural literacy.”

From its earliest days, Ukiyo-e images and texts frequently referred to themes from classical, literary, and historical sources, he added.

“It’s amazing to see these artworks. When I was in Tokyo, I got the opportunity to see their traditional Kabuki theatre which portrays the history, art and culture of Japan. So it’s good to see the traditional Japanese art and culture in Pakistan,” said Javaid, a guest at the exhibition.

The exhibition that has been organised by the Lahore Arts Foundation Trust in collaboration with the Japanese embassy, Serena Hotels and Kansai Paints Company will continue until June 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2014.