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Asian Art Calendar of Events

Thursday, March 28, 2024


Exhibition Public - USA & Canada

Kabuki Modern

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore Road,
Sarasota, Florida, USA
Nov 10, 2020 To Jun 27, 2021


Detail: Actors of kabuki, Japan’s distinctive form of popular theater, were superstars between the 17th and early 20th centuries, and continue to command cultural and celebrity status today. Their fame was fueled by mass-produced woodblock-printed actor portraits, or yakusha-e, that were sold as affordable mementos of the theater experience, and by bespoke paintings for wealthy patrons.

As Japan modernized from the late 19th century, theaters adapted their repertoire to cater to shifting tastes and social mores. New stories and foreign ideas reinvigorated kabuki and attracted diverse audiences and patronage. In response to these developments and the rise of photography, publishers, print designers and painters updated their stylistic and technical approaches to yakusha-e, thereby propelling the genre into the modern era.

Kabuki Modern presents superb recent acquisitions of kabuki imagery created between 1868 and the 1950s. Visitors will see works by Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Yamamura Kōka (Toyonari, 1885–1942), and Natori Shunsen (1886–1960) — the foremost print artists of their time. Also on view is a stunning painting by Murakami Michiho (1899–1938) that recently returned to the Museum following conservation treatment. These works of art capture the dynamic poses, elaborate stage make-up, and sumptuous costumes that have enthralled audiences for over 400 years.

Phone No.: 941-359-5700
Site URL: https://www.ringling.org/events/kabuki-modern



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