Lost and Found Yōkai

Inspired by Young V&A’s current exhibition, Japan: Myths to Manga, Young V&A has invited contemporary artists and designers from a host of disciplines to joyously transform umbrellas previously forgotten on London’s transport networks, and donated via Transport for London’s Lost Property office, into yōkai, as part of Young V&A’s new major installation, Lost and Found Yōkai.

The free indoor installation takes visitors on a journey through Kasa-obake Alley, where umbrellas once lost around the bustling streets of London, now dance with life at Young V&A.

The installation draws from traditions of yōkai, a class of supernatural beings and entities that abound in Japanese folklore, literature, art and popular culture, in particular, the kasa-obake or umbrella monster. These playful spirits are a type of tsukumogami, everyday objects that receive a spirit and find new life as yōkai on their 100th birthday.

Participating artists and designers include Andrew Kenny & John Booth, Anna Burns, Clara Chu, Nicole Chui, Damselfrau, Jessica Dance, Lilah Fowler, IKUKO Iwamoto, Rio Kobayashi, Hannah Lim, Anzhela Hayrabedyan & Luca Grosso, Kristi Minchin, Murugiah, Annie Frost Nicholson, Yuko Kondo, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Lydia Kasumi Shirreff, Sam Wilde & Naing Lin Oo and Bethan Laura Wood.

As part of Lost and Found Yōkai, visitors will be invited to hear sounds of supernatural Japan come to life, in a new work from sound artist and designer Yuri Suzuki, in partnership with design and research studio Very Very Far Away.