The Sōtatsu: Making Waves exhibit is on display at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., through Jan. 31, 2016. According to the Smithsonian, “Tawaraya Sōtatsu was a commoner who introduced traditional Japanese themes and subjects, formerly the sole purview of the aristocracy, to broader audiences. He painted these nationalistic images using a bold, expressive new design style. This characteristic style was further developed and enhanced when he founded the historic Rinpa school with calligrapher Hon’ami Koetsu; Rinpa works are marked by dramatic, stylized renderings of traditional Japanese themes.” The photos below were taken during a media tour of the exhibit, which took place three days before it opened to the public.
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (act. ca. 1600–40) Japan, Edo period, early 1600s
Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, gold, and silver on paper 166 x 369.9 cm (each, overall)
Gift of Charles Lang Freer, Freer Gallery of Art, F1906.231-232
(photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Dragons and Clouds 雲龍図屏風
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (act. ca. 1600–40) Japan, Edo period, early 1600s
Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and pink tint on paper, 171.5 x 374.3 cm (.229 overall), 171.5 x 374.6 cm (.230 overall)
Gift of Charles Lang Freer, Freer Gallery of Art, F1905.229-230
(photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (act. ca. 1600–40) Japan, early to mid-1600s
Poetry sheet mounted as hanging scroll; ink, colors, and gold on paper 23.97 × 20.96 cm (image); 132.72 × 40.32 cm (on mount)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the John R. Van Derlip Fund, 66.40
(photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (act. ca. 1600–40) Japan, early to mid-1600s
Eight-panel folding screen; ink, color, and gold on gilded paper 80.65 × 324.49 cm (image)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, L2015.33.1
(photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Photos: Sōtatsu: Making Waves – Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, D.C.
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine
Videos: Sōtatsu: Making Waves – Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Prof. Ryo Furuta and curator James Ulak
all videos by Mai D. Chan / Meniscus Magazine
For more information about the exhibit, go to www.asia.si.edu.
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