NINGYŌ: Art and Beauty of Japanese dolls 日本人形展

VENUE: College of Creative Arts, Massey University, Level C, Block 12 Te Ara Hihiko, Entry C Wallace Street, Mount Cook, Wellington
(Entry to Block 12 can also be made from Tasman Street)

14 June - 5 July 2021, 10am - 4pm, Monday - Friday

Admission: FREE

Concept of Exhibition:

The traveling exhibition “NINGYŌ: Art and Beauty of Japanese dolls” was prepared as a successor to our highly popular traveling exhibition “The Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Embodiments of Love”. Under the title NINGYŌ, which means “human shape” in Japanese, the doll culture that has been cultivated over the long history of Japan will be introduced through a total of 67 carefully selected dolls, divided into 4 sections: “Ningyō to pray for children’s growth,” “Ningyō as fine art,” “Ningyō as folk art,” and “Spread of Ningyō culture.”

The fact that dolls are an indispensable part of our daily lives is not limited to Japan, but the diversity of dolls and their delicate craftsmanship, backed by a deep love of dolls, could be said to be the characteristics of Japanese doll culture. This exhibition presents a comprehensive introduction to Japanese doll culture, from Katashiro and Amagatsu, which are considered to be the archetypes of dolls in Japan, to local dolls that reflect the climate and anecdotes from across the country, to dress-up dolls that are beloved in Japan today as doll toys, and scale figures that are highly regarded around the world. We appreciate that each doll on exhibit would be warmly welcomed all over the world, and that many audiences would experience the charm of Japanese dolls.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the doll artists who kindly agreed to take part in exhibiting their works, to our supervisors, Mr. Hayashi Naoteru and Mr. Mita Kakuyuki, and to all those who provided their generous support, assistance, and contribution. Japan Foundation.