Graphic Japan

Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga is the major exhibition that, for the first time in Italy, arrives in Bologna at the Civic Archaeological Museum, offering a visually rich and engaging journey through the evolution of Japanese graphic art and curated by Rossella Menegazzo with Eleonora Lanza. From the famous ukiyoe prints of the Edo period (1603–1868) to contemporary manga and posters, the show traces the expressive power of a visual language that has maintained extraordinary aesthetic and conceptual coherence over the centuries.

The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections – Nature, Figures, Line, and Contemporary Japonism – and features over 200 works, including prints, illustrated books, posters, katagami (decorative stencils for textiles), and finely crafted artisanal objects. The itinerary offers a layered and multifaceted narrative that spans various art forms: from calligraphy to typography, from design to fashion, from cinema to comics.

Graphic Japan explores the reasons behind the global success of Japanese graphic art, highlighting the deep connection between line and visual imagination. From the refined woodblock prints of Hokusai and Hiroshige to today’s manga, the exhibition reveals how Japanese graphic traditions have continually evolved while staying true to their visual and poetic identity.

The works on display come from renowned public and private collections in both Italy and Japan, including the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, the Dai Nippon Foundation for Cultural Promotion, and the Adachi Foundation.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Emilia-Romagna Region.