Netsuke & Urban Photos

(Note: this museum write-up is to make up class absence)

The Japanese Pavillion of the Los Angeles County Art Museum on Wilshire Blvd., currently contains two exhibits that fit the teacher’s prompt: compare and contrast. The museum’s collection of 15- netsuke from the Edo period, 1615 to 1868 tell in miniature sculpture about the possessions, myths, people’s jobs, and culture of the era. Meanwhile, in another section of the museum, the work of Japanese contemporary photographer Daido Moriyame (b 1938) tells of stress and jumble of the 21st century citylife.

First of all, netsuke are miniature sculptures made from woods, ivory, clay, animal teeth, that were carved in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical function. They are a button-like toggle that secures the cord of a pouch, purse, container than men wore hanging from their kimonos. Since kimonos have no pockets, wearers needed something to carry their small belonging in. The collection of LACMA’s netsuke rests on illuminated shelves at eye-level, so they may be closely inspected. Each carving is intricate and contains clues to the interests of the Edo period person. From animals to spiritual figures, to domestic items, such as tea kettles and wisks, these 1 to 3-inch figurines each contain a hole through which a cord was threaded. The museum has thematically arranged the netsuke. Not only will the viewer be amazed by the precise craftsmanship, but will also be impressed that sculptures have lasted so long. Think of a beautiful piece of sculpture on the end of your keychain. How long would it last? Then think also of the Japanese hands that created these “gifts” of function and art.

Moriyama’s show is titled “Fracture”, implying breaking , stress, separation and fragmentation. He takes his camera into Tokyo’s Shinjuku area – especially at night – and captures grainy, gritty images of street, subway, and club life. Side alleys are crowded with a jig-saw of signs, delivery trucks, and moving bodies. Modern reality seems to be crowded, isolated, blurry and mysterious. The artist’s statement at the show claims these street scenes describe the Westernization and consumerism that have altered traditional Japanese society.

A prompt that might create classroom discussion is the contemplation of a particular netsuke vs. a cellphone. The bearer of each item would loath to be without it. What can these items tell us about the status, interest, and society of the owner?
edited by egoebel on 4/25/2012