The exhibition represents one of the most significant cultural events celebrating the 150th anniversary of relationships between Japan and Italy
The age-old friendship between Italy and the “Land of the Rising Sun” dates back to 25 August 1866 when the first Treaty of Friendship and Commerce, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries, was signed.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the treaty, different cities in both countries have organized a series of cultural events including art exhibitions, plays and modern and traditional dance performances, film screenings, events dedicated to design and architecture but also comics, sporting events and cuisine. For example, one of the events staged in Japan includes an important exhibition on Botticelli at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
The most significant event on the Milanese events calendar is a major retrospective at Palazzo Reale dedicated to Ukiyoe masters Hokusai Hiroshige and Utamaro, featuring a selection of 200 xylographs and illustrated books including the famous Great Wave and the Thirty Six views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai (a part of the Cushion Pine at Aoyama, dated circa 1830-1832) on loan from the Honolulu Museum of Art. On the other hand, Situations (30 September- 29 January 2017) is the first retrospective dedicated by a European institution to Kishio Suga, a key figure on the contemporary Japanese art scene.
The exhibition showcases over twenty of Suga’s installations (re-adapted by the artist for the occasion) dating from 1969 to the present in the ‘Navate’ space of Pirelli Hangar Bicocca. In parallel with the exhibitions, the public will have an opportunity to further their knowledge about Japan, thanks to the staging of several events of a scientific, artistic and cultural nature. The events program, dedicated to Japan, will culminate on 7 December with the premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the La Scala Opera house.
