Title

Japanese prints : images from the floating world : the Brian and Barbara Crisp collection.

Venues

Art Gallery Of South Australia. (30 April 2004 – 13 June 2004)

Date

(2004)

Summary

Multi-artist exhibition. Located: Australia (SA). Prints

Curator

Jane Messenger, Assistant Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

The ukiyo-e (floating world pictures) print tradition flourished in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1867). It was a style of popular art that reflected the spirit and philosophy of a new urban culture, which sought to embrace life more fully and celebrate the present. Beauty and pleasure were valued above all because they belonged to the passing moment. Beautiful women and celebrity actors joined the motifs of the seasons as the most celebrated symbols of transient delight. It is this realm of popular entertainment, fantasy and desire that is portrayed through Japanese prints: Images from the floating world.

The exhibition also includes a number of twentieth century prints. The majority of these are from the shin-hanga (new print) movement (c.1915-30s) which revived the style, technique and subject of the ukiyo-e prints within the context of modern Japan. The exhibition displays publicly for the first time over 100 exquisite Japanese woodblock prints from the collection of Brian and Barbara Crisp, which is being donated to the Gallery in memory of their son Andrew. [Gallery media].