Exhibition Review: Ukiyo-e Zoo at Ota Memorial Museum of Art

I visited because the exhibition title 'Zoo' sounded fun.
Although I have been to Harajuku dozens of times and was vaguely aware of the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, this was my first visit.
I expected the museum to have a low profile with only a few visitors, so I was surprised to find it unexpectedly crowded. There were so many people that I felt a bit stressed while trying to view the works.
While the number of works is small, there are many pieces by famous ukiyo-e artists like Utagawa Hiroshige, and the content is cute, interesting, relatable, and fascinating, so I can recommend it (though I did feel 1,200 yen was a bit expensive).

This exhibition mainly introduces ukiyo-e (from the Edo period) that depict animals.
Specifically, the animals depicted include pets (cats, dogs, goldfish, mice, birds, etc.), familiar animals (sparrows, horses, cows, bats, etc.), rare animals (tigers, elephants, etc.), imaginary animals (such as a stone with tiger legs!), and anthropomorphized animals.
Every animal is humorous and cute, and being able to catch a glimpse of the customs and social conditions of the time is a great bonus, as it allows you to 'learn' rather than just 'look' at the pictures.

During Japan's Edo period, the West was producing elaborate and realistic oil paintings that are still difficult to replicate today, but compared to those, I was able to reaffirm that ukiyo-e is a very valuable art form on a completely different dimension, regardless of the level of painting technique.
I was struck by a conversation between other visitors who said, 'This picture (of a Kabuki actor striking a pose) looks like a cover of Shonen Jump.'
Even looking at them now, the compositions and the use of 'space' are stylish, and I found myself thinking that the reason Japan leads the world in manga is precisely because of this cultural depth.

Overall, it was a recommendable exhibition where you can see cute and interesting animals in ukiyo-e, and it is conveniently located near Harajuku.

Exhibition Name: Ukiyo-e Zoo
Location: Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Satisfaction: ★★★☆☆
Dates: July 30 (Sat) – September 25 (Sun), 2022
Access: About a 5-minute walk from Harajuku Station
Admission (General): 1,200 yen
Advance Reservation: Not required
Time Required: 30 to 45 minutes
Photography: Not allowed
URL: http://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/exhibition/animals-in-ukiyoe