About This Exhibition

Concept of Exhibition:

The traveling exhibition “NINGYŌ: Art and Beauty of Japanese dolls” was prepared as a successor to our highly popular traveling exhibition “The Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Embodiments of Love”. Under the title NINGYŌ, which means “human shape” in Japanese, the doll culture that has been cultivated over the long history of Japan will be introduced through a total of 67 carefully selected dolls, divided into 4 sections: “Ningyō to pray for children’s growth,” “Ningyō as fine art,” “Ningyō as folk art,” and “Spread of Ningyō culture.”

The fact that dolls are an indispensable part of our daily lives is not limited to Japan, but the diversity of dolls and their delicate craftsmanship, backed by a deep love of dolls, could be said to be the characteristics of Japanese doll culture. This exhibition presents a comprehensive introduction to Japanese doll culture, from Katashiro and Amagatsu, which are considered to be the archetypes of dolls in Japan, to local dolls that reflect the climate and anecdotes from across the country, to dress-up dolls that are beloved in Japan today as doll toys, and scale figures that are highly regarded around the world. We appreciate that each doll on exhibit would be warmly welcomed all over the world, and that many audiences would experience the charm of Japanese dolls.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the doll artists who kindly agreed to take part in exhibiting their works, to our supervisors, Mr. Hayashi Naoteru and Mr. Mita Kakuyuki, and to all those who provided their generous support, assistance, and contribution. Japan Foundation.

 

 

Four Sections In The Exhibition

1. Ningyō to pray for children's growth:

Doll culture in Japan developed out of rites to protect children against misfortune and to pray for their happiness. With the passing of time, the simple dolls used in those rites gradually became more ornate, giving rise to the today's typical style of Japanese dolls as seen in Hina Ningyō of the Hina Matsuri festival.

 

 

2. Ningyō as fine art:

As production techniques for doll making evolved, dolls began to be loved as objects of art for display from around the 17th century.

Members of the upper class and the Japanese imperial court in particular had a love for dolls of especially refined craftsmanship. These dolls, made with sculpting techniques, delicate colors, and finely produced clothing, broke from the realm of toys to enter the domain of fine art.

 

 

3. Ningyō as folk art:

Dolls are the crystallization of a parent's love for their child. Throughout Japan, doll culture rooted in local areas blossomed among the common people.

The folk dolls were primarily made from inexpensive materials such as clay, paper, and wood. Many were produced as a side occupation during breaks from farm work, and they provided sustenance for their simple lives. The many distinctive styles all share in common a theme of big-hearted smiles.

 

4. Spread of Nigyō Culture:

The well honed skills and techniques of doll production were put to good use in the worlds of traditional performing arts and also toys. The reappraisal of dolls as art in modern times drove the emergence of many talented doll creators, and Japan's doll culture further went on to give rise to the collector's scale figures popular throughout the world today.

 

 

About the Japan Foundation

Since its founding in 1972 the Japan Foundation has conducted a comprehensive and worldwide program of activities with the aim of promoting international understanding through cultural exchange in three areas: arts and cultural exchange, Japanese-language education overseas, and Japanese studies and intellectual exchange.

The Japan Foundation engages in international cultural-exchange activities in cooperation with over 130 countries around the world, it endeavors to promote international mutual understanding, setting its mission “Cultivating friendship and ties between Japan and the world,” in its main areas of activity, arts and cultural exchange, Japanese-language education overseas, and Japanese studies and intellectual exchange.

In the field of arts and cultural exchange, the Foundation focuses on activities to introduce Japanese art and culture to overseas, and in conjunction with these activities, the Foundation continuously conducts “Traveling Exhibition Program” organized with artworks from the Foundation's own collection. These traveling exhibitions feature about 15 different types of art, including contemporary art, crafts, photography, architecture, design, manga, and Japanese dolls, and are held every year at approximately 80 museums and exhibition facilities around the world. It is our hope that these exhibitions, which connect Japan and other countries, will bring people together and generate a dialogue around creativity through the sharing of rich artistic experiences.

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