An exhibition by the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures in partnership with the Hokusai-kan Museum, Obuse.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is perhaps Japan’s most renowned artist, particularly famous for his work The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Working as an ukiyo-e artist, Hokusai produced an impressive catalogue of works during his lifetime, spanning woodblock prints and paintings and mastering many impressive techniques relating to his craft.

In his mid-80s, at the invitation of wealthy farmer and merchant Takai Kozan, Hokusai moved to Obuse where he created several of his masterpieces including Dragon and Phoenix for the ceiling of the Higashimachi festival float, Masculine Waves and Feminine Waves for the ceiling of the Kanmachi festival float, and Phoenix for the ceiling of the main hall at Gansho-in temple.

This exhibition brings to the UK for the first time high-resolution reproductions of Hokusai’s works housed at the the Hokusai-kan Museum in Japan, accompanied by a series of talks and events. These displays explore the groundbreaking techniques employed by Hokusai in his later years that made him one of the world’s most recognised artists.

This exhibition is part of the anniversary programme celebrating 25 years of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures.

A symposium related to the exhibition will be hosted at Wells Maltings on Saturday 13th July – further details can be found here.

A series of gallery talks will be held on Saturday 6 July.

This exhibition is generously supported by Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation and Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.

Free to attend - No registration required