NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 5, 2024) — The Frist Art Museum is set to present Journey through Japan: Myths to Manga, an exhibition that delves into the rich tapestry of Japan’s folklore, design, and technology. This exhibition, organized by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, will be available for public viewing from October 25, 2024, to February 16, 2025, in the Upper-Level Galleries of the Frist Art Museum.
Designed to engage younger audiences while remaining captivating for all age groups, the exhibition offers a vibrant exploration of Japan’s visual culture. It is divided into four thematic sections: Sky, Sea, Forest, and City, featuring over 150 historic and contemporary artifacts. These range from traditional items like netsuke, origami, and woodblock prints to modern creations such as animated movies, graphic novels, and robots.
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“Dynamic and innovative, this exhibition celebrates Japanese art and design of many different time periods,” states Frist Art Museum curator at large Trinita Kennedy. The exhibition juxtaposes Ukiyo-e prints by Hiroshige and Hokusai from the 1800s with contemporary games and youth street fashion from the 2000s, illustrating the influence of Japan’s folktales on popular culture, including the works of Studio Ghibli and Shigeru Mizuki.
Journey through Japan also highlights contemporary Japanese artists and designers like Mariko Kusumoto, Keita Miyazaki, and Noritaka Tatehana. The creativity of young people is showcased through a poignant installation of one thousand paper cranes, a symbol of remembrance from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, made by school children.
The exhibition begins with the Sky section, showcasing how artists have drawn inspiration from celestial bodies and related stories. Featured items include a woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada and modern plushies of Sanrio’s Little Twin Stars.
The Sea section includes Utagawa Hiroshige’s depiction of the Seven Gods of Fortune and Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa. The section also features references to Studio Ghibli’s film Ponyo.
In the Forest section, visitors can explore mythical stories and superhuman heroes inspired by Japan’s dense forests. The section includes artifacts such as a painted wooden kokeshi doll and Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
The final section, City, focuses on urban life and the culture of kawaii (cuteness). Objects displayed include Pokémon and Tamagotchi toys, a Hello Kitty rice cooker, and a manga-inspired dress by Comme des Garçons.
The exhibition encourages interaction, creativity, and movement, inviting guests to play Japanese taiko drums, create origami, illustrate their own manga story, and more.
In Martin ArtQuest, the Frist’s award-winning art-making space, new stations will focus on character design, storytelling, and folklore, featuring traditional woodblock printmaking tools and works by Texan artist Daryl Howard.
A special event, Curator’s Perspective: Journey through Japan, presented by Dr. Mary Redfern, will be held on October 24. Dr. Redfern will discuss the development of the exhibition and the influence of Japan’s landscapes and popular tales on its art and design.
This exhibition is supported by The Sandra Schatten Foundation, The Anne and Joe Russell Family, and the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies at Vanderbilt University. The Frist Art Museum receives additional support from The Frist Foundation, Metro Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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