Exhibition/event has ended.
Ukiyo-e in Play
Tokyo National Museum
Finished
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The techniques of Japanese woodcut printing developed during the Edo period (1603-1868), giving rise to the dynamic and expressive art form known as ukiyo-e. The word ukiyo, literally “floating world,” also means “of the current age,” and ukiyo-e prints were a form of media that vividly reflected their time, capturing the essence of Edo-period society.
The highly refined woodcut techniques that produced the works of Sharaku, Utamaro, and Hokusai have been continuously passed down to contemporary artisans. The crisp lines and luminous colors, created using mountain cherry wood blocks and printed with ink and water-based pigments on washi paper, are unparalleled and inimitable. These traditional methods endure, evolving through works that continue to enchant people today, and preserving the art form’s legacy for future generations.
This exhibition features contemporary ukiyo-e, works emerging from collaborations between artists, designers, and creators from diverse fields who draw inspiration from the expressive power of traditional woodcut printing. Working alongside the carvers and printers of the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints, these artists take on the role of today’s eshi (artists who produced the original drawings for woodcut prints), reimagining the ukiyo-e tradition in a present-day context.
Through woodcut prints by 85 artists, we invite you to explore the potential of this time-honored art form as it evolves into the future.
The highly refined woodcut techniques that produced the works of Sharaku, Utamaro, and Hokusai have been continuously passed down to contemporary artisans. The crisp lines and luminous colors, created using mountain cherry wood blocks and printed with ink and water-based pigments on washi paper, are unparalleled and inimitable. These traditional methods endure, evolving through works that continue to enchant people today, and preserving the art form’s legacy for future generations.
This exhibition features contemporary ukiyo-e, works emerging from collaborations between artists, designers, and creators from diverse fields who draw inspiration from the expressive power of traditional woodcut printing. Working alongside the carvers and printers of the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints, these artists take on the role of today’s eshi (artists who produced the original drawings for woodcut prints), reimagining the ukiyo-e tradition in a present-day context.
Through woodcut prints by 85 artists, we invite you to explore the potential of this time-honored art form as it evolves into the future.
Schedule | Apr 22 (Tue) 2025-Jun 15 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Adults ¥1400; University Students ¥700; Seniors 70 & Over ¥400; High School Students and Under, Persons with Disability Certificates + 1 Companion free. | ||||
| Website | https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=2693 | ||||
| Venue | Tokyo National Museum https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en | ||||
| Location | 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712 | ||||
| Access | 10 minute walk from the Koen exit of JR Ueno Station, 13 minute walk from the Main exit of Keisei Ueno Station on the Keisei line, 15 minute walk from exit 7 at Ueno Station on the Ginza and Hibiya lines. | ||||
| Phone | 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial) | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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rico
しまこ
作品も、作品に挑戦する人達もかっこ良かった。 映像も見入ってしまう。 刷られる瞬間、子供のように久しぶりにときめいた。黒川紀章さんの作品が好き。