Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga

For the first time in Italy, a major exhibition visually recounts the fundamental stages of Japanese graphic art in a journey that leads from the Edo period (1603-1868) to the present day.

It begins in Florence, with early works such as the Madonna della Scala and precious drawings, and ends in 1494, when the young sculptor, who had taken refuge in Bologna after the expulsion of the Medici, received the commission for the Arca di San Domenico.

The project stems from a critical need combined with cultural curiosity to investigate the reasons for the global success of Japanese graphic art – characterised by an indissoluble link between sign and drawing – which, starting with ukiyo-e prints, the so-called “images of the Floating World”, led to artist posters and contemporary manga.

The exhibition is divided into four major thematic sections: Nature, Figures, Signs and Contemporary Japonism, with over 200 works printed in woodblock, books, albums, posters and katagami, as well as high-quality handicrafts.

An extraordinary layered narrative of the evolution of Japanese graphic art that crosses the arts, from calligraphy to typography, from drawing to design, from applied arts to fashion, cinema, theatre and comics.

Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga presents the themes and most relevant artists of different eras, highlighting the evolution of style, techniques, materials and subjects.

The works come from important Italian and Japanese institutions, including the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, civic and national libraries, as well as prestigious Japanese collections such as the Dai Nippon Foundation for Cultural Promotion and the Adachi Foundation.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Consulate General of Japan in Milan and the Italy-Japan Foundation.

©Guided tour by Mirarte

Full price: €27

Reduced price: €25 for Culture Card holders

Services included:

• Guided tour
• Entrance to the exhibition and radio guides

Meeting point:

Entrance to the Civic Archaeological Museum, Via dell'Archiginnasio 2, Bologna

Refunds and changes:

Due to the pre-payment of exhibition tickets, it will no longer be possible to refund the cost of tickets after the closing date for bookings (28 December, 9 January and 25 January).

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