Welcome to Floating Worlds, Japanese Woodcuts. This exhibition invites you on an imaginary journey through 19th century Japan.
Our meditative journey begins in Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, over 150 years ago, when it was called Edo. You can see the Kabuki theatre, watch fireworks and peek into private spaces. To get some air, stroll through the Japanese countryside. There you can see the sea or climb high into the mountains before returning home.
These prints are called ukiyo-e, which means ‘pictures of the floating world’. The concept of ukiyo ‘the floating world’ came from the belief that nothing lasts forever. Originally it symbolised the sorrows caused by desire but later it expressed a celebration of pleasure.
Each group of pictures is introduced by a traditional Japanese haiku. Many connections can be made between these short, non-rhyming poems and ukiyo-e prints. Both art forms capture a moment. They present ordinary scenes that can hint at deeper truths.
The pictures on display are a selection from the museum’s print collection. They focus on the end of the Edo period, which began in 1615 and ran until 1868.
