Antony Gormley in Ukiyo-e in Play
22 April—15 June 2025
Group exhibition at Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan
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, the invite you to explore the potential of this time-honoured art form as it evolves into the future.