Animals & Monsters: Cute, Scary, and a Little Strange

About this event

This exhibition introduces a diverse array of animals and yokai depicted in ukiyo-e woodblock prints under the keywords 'cute,' 'scary,' and 'a little strange.' It focuses on a wide range of characters that have appeared in ukiyo-e, from adorable animals to spine-chilling yokai, and somewhat bizarre, humorous beings. Along with familiar creatures like cats and dogs, yokai such as foxes, oni (demons), and tsuchigumo (earth spiders), as well as anthropomorphized animals and uniquely shaped characters, are explored from three perspectives: 'cute,' 'scary,' and 'a little strange.' Around 140 ukiyo-e works will be exhibited during the exhibition period, with all pieces rotated between the first and second terms. Visitors can enjoy the rich expressive world of animals and monsters in ukiyo-e, including newly acquired works shown for the first time. In particular, quirky and mysterious characters—such as the 'Torakoishi,' an imaginary creature where a stone sprouts tiger legs and a tail, the jinmen-gyo (human-faced fish), and an animal combining all twelve zodiac signs—showcase the rich imagination of ukiyo-e artists. Furthermore, a diverse world of animals and monsters unfolds, including beloved pets like cats and dogs, foxes and elephants moving comically like humans, cute yokai such as 'nekomata' dancing with hand towels on their heads, and anthropomorphized cats relaxing at soba shops, eel restaurants, and public bathhouses.

Venue

Ota Memorial Museum of Art

1-10-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001