Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art

“Universal Gateway,” Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, Calligrapher: Sugawara Mitsushige , 1257, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Drawn largely from The Met’s renowned collection of Japanese art, Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art explores the twin themes of anxiety and hope, with a focus on the human stories in and around art and art making.

The exhibition begins with sacred images from early Japan that speak to concerns about death, dying, and the afterlife or that were created in response to other uncertainties, such as war and natural disaster. The presentation then proceeds chronologically, highlighting medieval Buddhist images of paradises and hells, Zen responses to life and death, depictions of war and pilgrimage, and the role of protective and hopeful images in everyday life. In the final galleries, the exhibition’s underlying themes are explored through a selection of modern woodblock prints, garments, and photographs.

There will be several rotations of works:

Rotation 1: April 8–August 13, 2023
Rotation 2: August 26–November 26, 2023
Rotation 3: December 16, 2023–April 14, 2024
Rotation 4: April 27–July 14, 2024