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Asia Society Texas

Curator Talk: Dr. Andreas Marks

Saturday, Jul. 22, 2017 – Saturday, Jul. 22, 2017

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
US/Central

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This presentation by Modern Twist guest curator Dr. Andreas Marks will look into the historical development of bamboo art in Japan. It will also provide an overview of the leading artists in the early 20th century that were instrumental for establishing sculptural works as today’s second main pillar of Japanese bamboo art. Light bites will be provided.

Originally from China, bamboo baskets have been made in Japan since the 8th century, when they were used to hold flowers during Buddhist rituals. In the 9th century, bamboo objects became intimately connected with Japan’s two forms of ceremonial tea presentation — chanoyu and senchadō. Since flower arrangements in bamboo containers played a role in both traditions, baskets imported from China became popular. During the 19th century Japanese bamboo artists were predominantly engaged in reproducing the most complex forms for a demanding market.

Bamboo works remained predominantly utilitarian in nature until the mid-20th century, when a small number of artists began to experiment with nonfunctional, sculptural forms. Since then, bamboo artists have proven to be highly creative by challenging the conventions of basketry and pushing their medium to new conceptual and technical limits. Artistic forms emerged in the mid-20th century that influenced “traditional” baskets, transforming them from functional vessels to increasingly sculptural objects.

Innovative sculptures by 16 bamboo artists are on display in Modern Twist, and attendees to this lecture are invited to take a FREE look at the exhibition on the day of the program. The exhibition at Asia Society runs through July 30, 2017.

 

About the Presentation

About the Exhibition

Bamboo is characterized by strength, flexibility, and lightness—bending, not breaking, with strong winds, while enduring harsh winters. This exhibition explores the innovative shape bamboo art has taken in Japan since the mid-twentieth century. Featuring a selection of works from 16 Japanese artists, including rare wall-hung installations and works never before seen in Houston, Modern Twist both engages and educates audiences about a vibrant cultural art form.

About the Guest Curator

Dr. Andreas Marks is the Head of the Japanese and Korean Art Department at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. From 2008 to 2013 he was the Director and Chief Curator of the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture in California. He has a Ph.D. from Leiden University in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in East Asian Art History from the University of Bonn. A specialist of Japanese woodblock prints, he is the author of twelve books. His Publishers of Japanese Prints: A Compendium, is the first comprehensive reference work in any language on Japanese print publishers. In 2014 he received an award from the International Ukiyo‐e Society in Japan for his research. He has curated exhibitions in a variety of media from pre‐modern to contemporary art and visual culture at 25 museums including the Birmingham Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of Arts, Honolulu Museum of Art, and the San Antonio Museum of Art. His most recent exhibitions at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Seven Masters: 20th‐Century Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Wells Collection and Gifts of Japanese and Korean Art from the Mary Griggs Burke Collection, were reviewed in the Wall Street Journal. His new book, Hiroshige & Eisen: The 69 Stations along the Kisokaido, will be published in July, followed by Hard Bodies: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer Sculpture in October.

HOURS & ADMISSION

  • Wednesday, Friday - Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Thursday (free admission all day), 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Closed Monday and Tuesday and major holidays.
  • Explore Asia Admission: Six interactive stations; includes complimentary access to current exhibition in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery. $15 per guest ages 13 and up. $9 per guest ages 7–12. Free for guests ages 6 and under and for Asia Society members. Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery Admission Only: $8 per guest. Free for guests ages 6 and under and for Asia Society members.   Free exhibition admission on Thursdays from 12 pm – 7 pm, presented by Regions Bank.

Directions & Parking

  • Free Parking
  • Paid Parking
  • Street Parking
  • Parking in Asia Society Texas Center's lot is $7 for 1-24 hours. Entrances on Caroline and Austin. Limited free and paid street parking is also available.

Special Offers / Dining

Java Lava Cafe
Serving 100 percent premium Kona coffee from KarmaSu Coffee Farm in Hawaii, plus breakfast, lunch, and sweet treats, Java Lava Cafe is open for extended breakfast hours Tuesday–Saturday.

Hours
Tuesday – Saturday, 8:30 am – 3 pm
https://asiasociety.org/texas/java-lava-cafe

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