This exhibition explores the themes of anxiety and hope, with a focus on the human stories in and around art and art making. It begins with sacred images from early Japan about death, dying, and the afterlife or that were created in response to other uncertainties, such as war and natural disaster. It then proceeds chronologically, highlighting medieval Buddhist images of paradises and hells, Zen responses to life and death, depictions of war and pilgrimage, and the role of protective and hopeful images in everyday life. Finally, underlying themes are explored via modern woodblock prints, garments, and photographs.
The Met — “Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art”
