Director General of the Lithuanian National Art Museum (LNDM), dr. Curated by Arūnas Gelūnas, the exhibition exhibits historical ukiyo-e graphics, early and modern manga, excerpts from anime films, as well as works by famous contemporary Japanese artists. July 19 11 o’clock a press conference will be held, in which the curator of the exhibition, the general director of LNDM dr. Arūnas Gelūnas, owner and director of Mizuma gallery in Tokyo Sueo Mizuma, artists Makoto Aida, Akino Kondoh, Namonaki Sanemasa, Kazuki Umezawa.
Photo of the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Katsushika Hokusai, From the series “53 Tokaido Road Stations”
During the exhibition’s opening weekend, visitors are invited to events – lectures, anime screenings, creative workshops. The exhibition will be open until October 13.
“Culture becomes popular when it leaves the territory of the privileged class and becomes mass.” We, the 21st century. people, we often attribute a negative connotation to massiveness, we associate it with a lesser value, but let’s go back to the 17th century. Japan, where following the end of the terrible period of warring feudalism, peace is finally coming.
Ordinary people make a living, gain free time, create entertainment – little by little, the pop culture explored in the exhibition is formed. Its precocity and abundance of forms that have reached these times are surprising. I hope that the exhibition will provoke visitors to rethink the term pop culture and see the people empowered by pop culture”, says A. Gelūnas.
Photo by the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Ušivakamaru learns the art of fencing from a tengu, under the supervision of their master Sodžios
The visitors of this exhibition will be surprised not only by the works of famous artists, but also by bright, everyday-looking modern computer games, advertising posters, cartoons, manga comic books and 17th century paintings. connections between exhibits marking the origins of pop culture culture.
XVII a. užgimusi pop culture
17th century At that time, in the world’s largest city, Edo (today’s Tokyo), the strictly hierarchical Japanese society was one of the first in the world to establish for non-noble citizens (here) a significant space for leisure and entertainment – Yoshivara entertainment quarter. It was here that forms of Japanese popular culture were born, which have achieved tremendous success far beyond its borders: kabuki theater, ikebana – the art of arranging flower bouquets, haiku poetry and colorful woodcuts ukiyo-e.
Photo of the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Manga
This is the first time in the history of world culture, when a group of society that is not politically influential and unable to travel abroad created high-level art for its own, and not for the needs of the higher (rulers, aristocrats, clergy) class.
The exhibition exhibits the works of more than 70 authors, from Katsushika Hokusai to Takashi Murakami, from Kitagawa Utamar to the “manga god” Osamu Tezuka. Juxtaposing the works highlights the socio-cultural revolution that took place in the 17th century. A connection between the Edo period and contemporary Japanese popular culture that is spreading globally through digital channels.
This historical-panoramic exhibition is one of the few attempts (and the first in Lithuania) to reveal the connections between things that were not usually and often still are not displayed together in the museum space: ukiyo-e prints, historical cartoons giga, erotic shunga books, commercial posters hikifuda, comics, manga, excerpts from famous anime movies, etc.
Photo of the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Sutoppu! Niichan “Stop, Brother!” (Supplement of Shōnen (Boy) September 1963
The pop culture formula: tempt, frighten and charm with bravery
The works in the exhibition are grouped into three categories – beautiful (live) images, toys (Yokai) scary or funny stories and samurai (bush, samurai) feats. As the exhibition reveals, these three themes date back to the 17th century. the most important components of pop culture:
“Pop culture tries to tempt, frighten, laugh, and fascinate viewers with stories of bravery and strength. These aspirations remain in today’s love and erotic dramas, horror films and comedies, thrillers and fighting films and games. And what to talk regarding contemporary art that reflects, ironizes, and often questions these processes. All this demonstrates that a person needs very similar things, even as the ages change,” says the curator of the exhibition Dr. A. Gelūnas.
Photo by Gintarė Grigėnaitė/Arūnas Gelūnas
According to the curator of the exhibition, although the exhibition focuses on the manifestations of pop culture, it will also have something to offer to the visitor who cherishes the classical concept of art, and the ingenious architecture of the exhibition and its sound and lighting design will transport everyone to the Japanese urban space.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a colorful program of Japanese events and educational activities
During the opening weekend of the exhibition, visitors are invited to participate in a rich program of events. July 20, Saturday, 2 p.m. there will be a lecture by A. Gelūnas, at 3 p.m. University of Connecticut professor Dr. Lecture by Raphael Koenig, 5 p.m. – Review of the anime Astro Kid: Space Daredevil. This is in 1964. an animated film based on the manga and TV series by “manga god” Osamu Tezuka, which started the glory age of Japanese anime.
Photo of the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Shurayuki-hime, “Bloody Snow Princess”
Sunday, July 21, 2 p.m. The artist Namonakis Sanemasa’s creative workshop for children aged 8-12 will take place, where young visitors will be invited to create original uchiha (traditional Japanese fans) from stamps offered by the artist and made by himself.
Events accompanying the exhibition will take place throughout the summer. Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. the lecture will be given by American Japanese art historian prof. Jennifer Weisenfeld. August 1 and 8 6 p.m. the curator of the planned exhibition, general director of LNDM dr. Excursions by A. Gelūnas following the exhibition.
Photo of the Lithuanian National Art Museum/Visual of the exhibition
Visitors will be invited to meet in September while listening to the chief consultant of the exhibition, prof. Lectures by Tetsuya Ozaki and Katarzyna Nowak, director of the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology (Kraków, Poland). In autumn, the curator of the exhibition Dr. A.Gelūnas tours, anime screenings, concert, performance, brainstorming.
The program of events is published here.
#latest #exhibition #reveal #17th #century #impact #emerging #pop #culture #imagination #contemporary #Japanese #creators #Culture
2024-07-17 09:12:39
