Exhibit showcases Japanese art

Aims to promote cultural harmony through fusing indigenous crafts

ISLAMABAD:

The Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Wada Mitsuhiro, on Tuesday inaugurated the exhibition "MOKU-HANGA, prints from Pakistan" at the National Art Gallery, Islamabad.

The exhibition showcases a unique fusion of traditional Japanese woodblock printing, mokuhanga, with Pakistani artistic sensibilities.

The exhibition, which runs until October 15, has been organised by the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association Islamabad (PJCA) in collaboration with Khad'o Khaal Gallery, COMSATS University, National Testing Service-Pakistan (NTS), Embassy of Japan in Islamabad and the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

While speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the ambassador said that mokuhanga is a traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique which has been a cornerstone of Japanese art for centuries. "This exhibition not only showcases the beauty and elegance of mokuhanga but also serves as a bridge between our cultures, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation," he said. PJCA President Jamal Shah, in his welcome address noted that the PJCA is delighted to present the "MOKU-HANGA, prints from Pakistan" exhibition for art lovers. "This exhibition has been beautifully showcased in collaboration with Pakistani artists that reflects the diversity and richness of our shared culture," he added.

The curator of the exhibition Dr Shahida Mansoor expressed her views at the inauguration, saying that this pioneering project brought together Pakistani artists and Japanese experts to explore the centuries-old mokuhanga printmaking technique, which is characterised by its use of water-based inks and delicate, subtle results.