Ukiyo-e Exhibition at the Penang Museum

Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) “pictures of the floating world”, is general term for a genre of Japanese woodblock prints produced between the 17th and the 20th century, featuring motifs of landscapes, the theatre and pleasure quarters. Ukiyo, meaning floating world, refers to the impetuous young culture that bloomed in the urban centers of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Osaka and Kyoto that were a world unto themselves. It is an ironic allusion to the homophone term “sorrowful world”, the earthly plane of death and rebirth from which Buddhists sought release.


The famous "Big Wave" by Hokusai

This Ukiyo-e set consists of 75 works by distinguished 7 artists such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Tosyusai Syaraku and Kitagawa Utamaro. Ukiyo-e prints by artists like Tosyusai Syaraku and Kitagawa Utamaro were in fact posters, advertising theater performances and brothels, or idol portraits of popular actors and beautiful teahouse girls.

This exhibition started in August 1 and will end on September 25.

Check Penang Museum opening hours here