Reflections Of Japan In East Yorkshire – Enjoy A Guided Tour

To add an extra dimension to the popular exhibition at Beverley Art Gallery, ‘Reflections of Japan in East Yorkshire’, curator Helena Cox will be running guided tours and talks about the exhibition on three dates in December.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a free special tour of the exhibition, which represents the culmination of four years of planning and work by Helena, on:

Thursday, 2 December at 12.00 noon
Thursday, 9 December at 18.00
Saturday, 11 December at 13.30.

Helena Cox said :

“I am really looking forward to the chance to show visitors around this exhibition, and to explain more about the fascinating items included, the unique way in which we acquired the items on display, and uncovering the fascinating links between East Riding and Japan throughout history and in the present day. I can promise those who attend the talks a very interesting experience!”

Each tour will last up to an hour. The talks are run on a drop-in basis and no booking is required.

‘Reflections of Japan in East Yorkshire’ is a unique exhibition bringing together a selection of items from private collections across East Yorkshire and contemporary woodblock prints by Laura Boswell. It is one of the official events of the ‘Japan-UK Season of Culture’.

The core of the exhibition is Jane Irisa’s stunning collection of traditional Japanese toys, which she collected from all over Japan during her many journeys there. Jane previously worked in the Oriental and Japanese sections of the British Library, and therefore her collection is brilliantly documented and well researched.

The exhibition also includes a selection of items and stories from private collections, including rare items from the Imperial Court, calligraphy, and decorative items, as well as artwork inspired by Japanese culture and a stunning collection of Japanese vintage kimonos.

To celebrate the mutual influence between Japan and Great Britain, the Gallery is delighted to present a selection of works by the renowned printmaker, Laura Boswell. Laura is showing examples of her work capturing the stunning Yorkshire and wider British landscapes in the traditional Japanese medium of coloured woodblock prints.

Laura’s long-standing passion for Japan saw her undertake numerous study trips to Japan to emulate the technique. The result is a true meeting of the two cultures, presenting British landscapes with distinctly Japanese optics and aesthetic sensitivity. This is Laura’s first major public exhibition.

The exhibition shows a series of video presentations made by Japanese exchange students from Ochanomizu University (Japan) and Hull University, presenting the stories behind traditional Japanese toys and customs.