Passion for the Exotic: Japonism

An installation of nearly 50 works of ceramics, furniture, metalwork, and other objects from the permanent collection in the museum’s Teak Room. Explores  how American and European designers, following the opening of Japan to the West in the late 19th century, created objects inspired by Japanese imports and other examples of Eastern design through form, technique, motifs, and materials.

Passion for the Exotic: Japonism explores the newfound influence of Japan on Western design in the late 19th century. A closed society until 1854, Japan ended its self-imposed isolation after American Commodore Matthew C. Perry led a fleet of armed steamships into Japanese ports and secured a trade treaty. Subsequently, Japanese exports such as metalwork, ivories, lacquer-work, woodblock prints, ceramics and textiles flooded the marketplace, providing inspiration with their wealth of distinctive decorative elements, many drawn from nature. As part of a broader interest in “exotic” cultures during the late 19th century, newly available Japanese design sources were soon joined by those of India to help create a European and American Aesthetic Movement.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.      

Whether or not you go, Japonisme: Cultural Crossings Between Japan and the West presents the story that focuses on the human drama of personalities involved in the two-way dialogue between cultures in the latter-19th century. A gorgeously-illustrated account of an ongoing - and extraordinarily fruitful - affair between Japan and the West, the book celebrates the West's love affair with Japan and that country's reciprocal interest in the West.  The lively text is full of human interest, and is closely supported by a wealth of beautiful illustrations. "The text informs the illustrations and the illustrations inform the text".

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