200 Years of Japan: From the Tōkaidō Road to the Art of Chiharu Shiota

A conversation between Barbara Galentino and Davide Quadrio

The talk explores a passion for Japan that, far from waning, continues to renew itself over time. This interest is interpreted through images spanning two centuries of history, from the ancient yet enigmatic Japan of Utagawa Hiroshige's Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō to contemporary cultural expressions. This imagery transcends the experience of travel and its influences, transforming into a truly collective fascination among the Italian public for all things Japanese. At the heart of the discussion is a reflection on the effect that images—both ancient and recent—of Japan have on our imagination of this distant yet now intimately familiar place. Stories intertwine, from snow—the theme of the current exhibition—to winter landscapes, storms at sea and in the mountains, and all the way to contemporary Japan: from the Winter Olympics to ski domes, artificial slopes designed for year-round skiing, to more rarefied and symbolic imagery.

With the support of Turisanda1924 - part of Alpitour World.