Events

2025/6/27

Events

Monthly Ikebana Feature - June
 


Christopher James, 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

 
 

Exhibition: Suminagashi: A Journey Through Time and Space


The exhibition “Suminagashi: A Journey through Time and Space” invites viewers to explore a time-honoured Japanese art of marbling, dating back to the 12th century. Though steeped in history and tradition, Suminagashi remains one of the less widely known forms of Japanese art.

Curated and presented by Izabela Fedyszyn (PhD) – a Melbourne-based visual artist and scholar – the exhibition begins with a concise historical overview featuring selected reproductions of classical Suminagashi works sourced from international museum collections, and leads into Fedyszyn’s contemporary interpretations of the medium.

When: Tuesday 8 July – Monday 1 September 2025
9am-1pm, 2-5pm (Closed 1pm-2pm)

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