KUNIYOSHI IMMERSIVE ART in Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition

Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art presents a rare opportunity this summer to experience the dynamic world of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, one of Japan's most versatile and inventive artists. The immersive digital exhibition "KUNIYOSHI IMMERSIVE ART in Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition" runs alongside the larger exhibition "Ukiyo-e Super Creator: Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition".

Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) emerged during the latter half of the Edo period as an artist of remarkable range. Known primarily for his warrior prints, he refused to be confined to a single genre. His brushwork captured beautiful women with spirited elegance, actors with penetrating psychological depth, landscapes infused with Western perspective techniques, and satirical prints brimming with humour and social commentary. For fellow Edo residents, Kuniyoshi was pure entertainment – a master craftsman who excelled at whatever subject he chose.

This versatility earned him recognition as a "super creator" of the ukiyo-e world, an artist who approached each commission with the same commitment to excellence, whether depicting legendary samurai or beloved cats.

The Exhibition

The main exhibition presents approximately two hundred works across six thematic categories, revealing the breadth of Kuniyoshi's talent. Famous compositions such as "Musashi's Whale Hunt" and "Soma's Ancient Palace" sit alongside lesser-known gems, each selected to illustrate the artist's multifaceted genius.

Contextual notes guide visitors through Kuniyoshi's creative evolution whilst offering glimpses into the daily lives and sensibilities of Edo townspeople who championed his work.

The Immersive Experience

The centrepiece of the museum visit is the dedicated immersive art space, where over fifty of Kuniyoshi's masterpieces are transformed through three-dimensional computer graphics and projection mapping. Walking through this space, visitors encounter prints animated and enlarged, their dynamic compositions intensified through synchronized light and sound. Kuniyoshi's warrior prints leap from their historical context into living, breathing tableaux. His humorous works gain new dimension through movement and colour.

Tickets are available through Seven Ticket, Lawson Ticket, Ticket Pia, e+, Asoview, and the museum's official online ticketing.