The Japanese concept of ‘mono no aware’ is central to Japanese aesthetics. It is usually translated as ‘the pathos of things’ and is used to describe the beauty of the ephemeral. The cherry blossom, which blooms for only a few weeks, is highly valued in Japan because of its transience. It is fitting that as the last petals fall in Japan the Toshiba Gallery of Japanese Art and Design will close (if only temporarily), leaving us all feeling a little saddened.
Utagawa Hiroshige II, 1857. Museum no. E.3928:1,2,3-1886. © Victoria & Albert Museum.
In advance of the Toshiba Gallery’s closure on 27 April for its well-deserved upgrade, the curators, together with conservators, photographers and technicians have become even more aware of their ‘things’ and the unique character of the gallery itself.
Within the V&A’s commitment to collecting global art and design, Japan has held an especially significant place. Much of this has to do with the fact that Japonisme, the craze for all things Japanese, arose in the decades immediately following the founding of the Museum.
Opened in December 1986, the Toshiba Gallery was designed to showcase the V&A’s internationally important collection of Japanese art. Consisting of around 40,000 works ranging from the Middle Jōmon period (3500–2500 BC) up to the present day, it includes metalwork, arms and armour, paintings and prints, textiles and dress, ceramics, lacquerware and decorative carvings.
V&A Museum;
27th April 2012. © Victoria and Albert Museum
The gallery was designed by Paul Williams of Stanton Williams and is still today, almost 30 years since it opened, one of the largest permanent galleries of Japanese art in the UK. While the distinctive overhead wooden structure, inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, will remain, changes to the lighting and the internal fabric of the display cases will provide an improved setting for showing the collection.
The gallery will also be reconfigured to provide additional space to show modern and contemporary objects – not just studio crafts, but interior design, product design, photography, graphics and fashion, both high-end and kawaii street.
While we’re closed, we will keep you updated with what is going on behind the hoarding. And of course, just like the cherry blossoms, we will be back, although this time to coincide with the fiery red maple leaves of autumn!
