Ambassador WADA Mitsuhiro hoped that the viewer will gain a deeper understanding of contemporary art trends of the 1970s which were triggered by the print medium

Mahnoor Ansar

ISLAMABAD: The Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) have showcased an impressive exhibition of “Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s” here at the premises of the National Art Gallery in Islamabad. H.E. Mr. WADA Mitsuhiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, inaugurated the exhibition on Wednesday 8th February in the presence of many guests including artists and art students.

The Japan Foundation’s newly organized travelling exhibition “Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s” which is curated by the curator Kyoji TAKIZAWA focuses on print expressions from the 1970s as seen in the work of 14 artists who helped develop a print movement in the world of Japanese contemporary art. Divided into two sections, the exhibition showcases “The Age of Photographic Images,” which focuses on the use of photographic images in the print medium, and “Images of Autonomous Matter,” which focuses on works that were shaped by the intentions of matter. The exhibition aims to give a deeper understanding of contemporary art trends of the 1970s which were triggered by the print medium. The artworks of 14 eminent Japanese artists were displayed in the exhibition. Ambassador WADA Mitsuhiro, while speaking on the occasion of inaugural ceremony, said that this exhibition provides a good opportunity to the viewers to take a glimpse of the Japanese prints of the 1970s, an era in which new trend emerged  in contemporary Japanese art due to a focus on photographic images and matter.  He hoped that the viewer will gain a deeper understanding of contemporary art trends of the 1970s which were triggered by the print medium. The Japan Foundation continuously conducts the “Traveling Exhibitions Program” to introduce Japanese arts and culture to overseas. This exhibition is one of the Exhibitions which is part of this programme. The exhibition will remain open to visitors till 19th February.