Events

Monthly Ikebana Feature - May
 

Lei Sun, Ikebana International 

Exhibition: Meiji, Taisho and early Showa Era Ceramics

This exhibition by Carl Wantrup Asian Art presents a selection of Japanese ceramics from Meiji (1868-1912), Taishō (1912-1926) and early Showa (1926-1989) periods, celebrating moments of extraordinary innovation
and artistry in Japan’s ceramic history.

On view are works by Meiji Period master potters designated as ‘Teishitsu Gigei-in’ - Imperial Household Artists, including Seifū Yōhei III, Suwa Sōzan I, and Itō Tōzan I, as well as earlier pioneers such as Kanzan Denshichi, who laid the groundwork for a new Imperial aesthetic. These artists brought Japanese ceramics into a new era under the visionary leadership of Emperor Meiji, absorbing and mastering newly imported European technologies in glaze chemistry, high-temperature firing, and also new European design, while maintaining a deeply rooted Japanese sensibility.

Also featured is the work of a group of Taishō and early Shōwa ceramicists, whose bold experimentation marks the emergence of modernism in Japanese clay.  Together, these works chart a fascinating artistic evolution - one in which tradition and innovation coexist with quiet brilliance—and invite viewers to appreciate the beauty, technical virtuosity, cross-cultural exchange and cultural nuance that define a pivotal moment in Japan’s ceramic legacy.

When: Tuesday 6 May – Monday 7 July 2025
9am-1pm, 2-5pm (Closed 1pm-2pm)

Where: Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne
Level 25, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000