My experience curating an art exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery

As a specialist in Japanese woodblock prints at SOAS, Dr Monika Hinkel shares her experience curating 'Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese Printmaking' at the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery was looking for a project curator for their special exhibition and chose me to join the team. As a specialist in Japanese woodblock prints, I found this opportunity incredibly exciting, especially given the gallery's iconic status.

This exhibition holds significant importance as it is the first special exhibition in Europe and the UK to feature the Yoshida family of printmakers. It introduces the work of three male and three female artists across three generations. With nearly eighty works on display, thanks to loans from the Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan, The British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and a Japanese private collection, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the exceptional Yoshida family’s oeuvre.

At SOAS, I've been teaching Japanese Art since 2008 as part of the SOAS Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art and the School of Arts. My research focuses on Japanese woodblock prints, and I frequently incorporate examples of these prints into my lectures. I also deliver lectures specifically on Japanese woodblock prints, which are closely tied to the work showcased in this exhibition.

During this experience, I learned that in 1900, the first-generation artist Yoshida Hiroshi visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery and signed the gallery’s visitor book. The gallery collaborated with the current-generation artist, Yoshida Ayomi, for a unique site-specific installation for the show. It was an honour to learn directly from Ayomi about her famous family, their printmaking techniques, and her own practice.

I hope visitors will discover the captivating evolution of Japanese printmaking over a century, from naturalistic scenes to abstract works. They will see examples of shin hanga (new prints) and sōsaku hanga (creative prints), highlighting the significant contributions of female artists within this unique artistic legacy. The exhibition showcases the versatility of techniques, styles, and topics in the work of the six featured artists from one family, allowing visitors to explore the fascinating aspect of continuity and change within the family’s works.

Visit the exhibition 'Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese Printmaking' at Dulwich Picture Gallery from 19 June to 3 November 2024. 

Header image credit: Yoshida Hiroshi, Kumoi Cherry Trees, 1926. Courtesy of Fukuoka Art Museum.