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Japanese dolls reflect the country’s rich culture; each doll has its own distinct meaning and purpose, and is deeply connected to daily life. Long established traditions such as Hina Matsuri or “Girls Festival” have done much to foster this unique culture of dolls. Dating back some thousand years, families with daughters display their set of Hina Dolls as a sign of prayers for the happiness of their daughters. |
This deep traditional appreciation for dolls has resulted in the belief that dolls are not merely toys for children to play with but also works of art that are meant to be treasured, displayed and admired. Highly trained craftsmen use time-honored methods to create a number of well established types of traditional dolls that are cherished by their owners. Dolls reflecting scenes from Noh theater, Bunraku or Kabuki are featured in the exhibition as well as dolls created in Kyoto and Hakata, Gosho Ningyo (Imperial Palace dolls), Oyama Ningyo (dolls depicting young women), Ichimatsu Ningyo and dolls depicting customs of Japan, among others.
The
exhibition also features examples of the art form as
it is interpreted by modern day craftsmen, providing
interesting comparisons of interpretation in age-old
doll-making traditions.
Co-organized by:
The Department of Russian and East Asian Languages and Cultures, Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, Japan Fest and Japan Foundation. |
