An exhibition of dolls of the oldest times of Japan that depict the traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun and the cultural aspirations of the Japanese people was mounted at the National Museum of Arts. The event, organized by the Japan Foundation, aims to promote the traditional Japanese handicrafts and presents different aspects of the culture of Japan, IPN reports.
In the opening of the event, Japan’s Ambassador to Moldova Masanobu Yoshii said the exhibition of dolls was prepared for the purpose of promoting visual understanding of the Japanese culture and arts. The Japan Foundation stages exhibitions on different themes, from the traditional arts to modern and contemporary arts. “The exhibition already travelled through a number of countries and was appreciated by many art lovers. The Japanese dolls show the traditions of Japan and the values of the Japanese people. The exhibition offers a new look on Japan through this form of arts,” stated Masanobu Yoshii.
According to the diplomat, some of the dolls represent babies and children, while others soldiers, heroes or tale characters. There are also dolls related to the traditional Japanese theater. Some of the dolls were created by contemporary artists and represent different regions of Japan. A part of them have a very long tradition and continue to be offered as presents and are used at different festivals. Some of the dolls were used in religious festivities. The first craftsmen who made dolls were the temple sculptors who used their skills to create children’s images from wood.
National Museum of Arts director Tudor Zbârnea said such an exhibition is a novelty for our cultural space and is a lesson of how to promote arts in general. One can see the love and tenderness with which the clothes and faces of the dolls were made. In a year, there will be mounted an exhibition of Japanese arts with the Japanese print, with a catalog that will be published for the first time. “The oriental culture interests us and I think will always interest us as our interferences brought great values when we had the occasion of welcoming them,” stated Tudor Zbârnea.
Secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research Gheorghe Postica noted the exhibition marks the openness of the Extreme East. Japan has always distinguished itself by a very special culture that astounded the people, the admirers. “In the current epoch of computes and large equipment, the Japanese people, who represent a power of modern technology, managed to keep the authentic heritage values and these values are expressed by contemporary art. The Japanese contemporary art is built on its historical roots,” stated the secretary.
Currently, the old methods of making traditional Japanese dolls are highly appreciated by those who are fond of decorative arts. The Japanese dolls are characterized by the expressiveness of their faces that is obtained by attentively sculpturing the outer layer of the figure.
The exhibit can be visited until March 10. Entrance is free of charge.
