Vivinavi

Description

2023/2/1 - 2023/2/22 / New York (ミッドタウン), New York / Other

Elegant Creatures: Reptiles, Insects, and Crustaceans in Japanese Art, an exhibition organized by the Japan Club （, sponsored by the Japan Club, JCC Fund ）.

As part of our efforts to address the environmental issues of the SDGs, we are pleased to present an exhibition of outstanding Japanese art works featuring "living things," mainly insects, reptiles, and crustaceans.

The exhibition will be held at the Japan Gallery on the 7th floor of the Nippon Club and at the WEB Gallery （ online ）.

■ In-Person ：
Feb 2 （ Thu ） - Feb 23 （ Thu ）
Japan Gallery （ Japan Club 7th floor 145 West 57th street, New York, 10019)
Free Admission

■ Online ：
Feb 16 （ Thu ） - Mar 9 （ Thu ）
Nihon Club WEB Gallery （ https://nippongallery.nipponclub.org ）

All kinds of "living things" live on earth, from animals, fish and insects to plants and microbes. The total number of known species in the world is said to be about 1.75 million, but many believe that the total number of species on earth, including those not yet known, is somewhere between 5 million ～ and 30 million.

Some of the species that have diversified during the course of biological evolution are threatened with extinction due to human activities, with approximately 10 ～ 30% of known mammalian, avian, and amphibian species threatened with extinction. Biodiversity is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with approximately 20 ～ 30% of plant and animal species assessed so far likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperature increases exceed 1.5 ～ 2.5°C, and a rise of 4°C or more would be considered globally significant more than 40% of species ） are projected to become extinct. If each organism cannot tolerate environmental change, it will become "extinct" unless it can respond either by adapting by evolving in place or by moving to a habitat where it can live.

All "living things" are interrelated and make up the world on earth. Insects are "symbols of nature," but in recent years, dragonflies and other small insects have been disappearing one by one. The extinction of a single species threatens the extinction of the organisms that fed on it, upsetting the balance of the natural world.

Under these circumstances, the Nippon Club, as part of its efforts to address environmental issues under the SDGs, will hold an exhibition introducing outstanding Japanese art works featuring living creatures, mainly insects, reptiles and crustaceans. Since ancient times, Japanese people have felt an affinity with "living things" and have naturally expressed their familiarity with them in their daily utensils and handicrafts. This is true not only of animals, but also of reptiles, crustaceans, and insects. Jade （ and kingfishers ） were embedded in the mouths of ancient burials in China, and reptiles and insects were used as subjects of art in Europe during the Middle Ages, but few examples are as detailed or humorous as in Japan.

This exhibition features two major collections from the East Coast of the United States, including ceramics by Makazu Kozan （ 1842-1916 ）, who was appointed as an Imperial Artist in the pottery department during the Meiji period, Satsuma ware, metal works including vases from the Koritsu Kosho Company (）), cloisonne enamel, iron, and copper. The exhibition will feature approximately 30 works of Japanese art, including cloisonne, iron and copper figurines, jewelry, and textiles. In these works, insects are presented in a humorous and lively manner. We hope that insects and reptiles will provide an opportunity for visitors to reflect on the importance of nature.

Organizer ： The Nippon Club
Sponsor ： JCC Fund,
Curator ： Sachiko Hori

（ Reference ： Environment ／ Recycling-oriented White Paper on Recycling-Oriented Society "Chapter 6: Conservation of the Natural Environment and Promotion of Contact with Nature" ）


（ Photo ） Iron Myochin Jizai ornament, Swallowtail butterfly, Edo period, unnamed

[Contact]

gallery@nipponclub.org