Echoes of Prosperity exhibition: Capturing Japan’s Graphic Narratives: 1980s-1990s
A collaborative initiative of Japan Foundation, New Delhi and Galeria Geek Art, the week-long India Art Fair Parallel exhibition delves into Japan’s cultural evolution through meticulously curated graphic design posters during the era.
NEW DELHI: In a first time initiative to showcase echoes of prosperity through the graphic narrative that encapsulates Japan’s cultural identity during the transformative decades of the 1980s and 1990s, Japan Foundation, New Delhi with the support of Galeria Geek Art, is hosting a week-long India Art Fair Parallel exhibition Echoes of Prosperity: Capturing Japan’s Graphic Narratives: 1980s – 1990s at Sakura Hall, in its premises in New Delhi.
The Japan Foundation is Japan’s only Institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world. Through culture, language and dialogue, it creates opportunities to foster friendship, trust and mutual understanding. It’s New Delhi branch is led by Director General Koji Sato.
According to the organisers the exhibition (Jan 27 – Feb 4, 2024) delves into Japan’s cultural evolution during the dynamic 80s-90s, through meticulously curated graphic design posters from the era. They serve as a testament to an extraordinary period of prosperity in Japan’s history, allowing visitors to witness the interplay between tradition and modernity, showcasing the nation’s economic boom and urbanisation and its evolution to its modern identity.
Moksha Modgil, Gallery Director, Galeria Geek Art said, “The exhibition Echoes of Prosperity unfolds a journey through the graphic narrative that encapsulates Japan’s cultural identity during the transformative decades of the 1980s and 1990s. Within this curated collection, the interplay of tradition and modernity is intricately explored, offering an understanding of the visual narratives that echoed the nation’s prosperity.”
The exhibition weaves through the remarkable economic expansion and rapid urbanization that defined Japan of the era, which led to revolutionary technological advancements and a booming manufacturing sector. Tokyo witnessed a transformation into a global metropolis with population surges, skyscrapers and commercial developments Government investments in infrastructure, including high-speed rail networks, exemplified a commitment to progress and prosperity
The exhibition unfolds through two thematic explorations Firstly, it delves into posters designed to project Japan’s identity on the global stage. Through participation in international design and commercial expositions, poster designs served as a medium to portray Japan’s new identity as a modern and advanced nation. Through these vivid visual narratives of an interplay between what once was and the aspirations for the future, designers offered an insight into this dynamic period.
The second thematic perspective is how the posters communicated with the youth actively shaping Japanese pop culture. The designers evidently embraced and celebrated Japan’s artistic history, breaking free from the shadows of World War II. The convergence of traditional methods of printmaking with modern tools, such as typesetting software, digital printing presses, and cameras, marks a transformative era in graphic design, symbolizing Japan’s position as a trailblazer ahead of the global curve
“Echoes of Prosperity” aims to engage in a dialogue and introspection on how visual culture transcends time to redefine cultural identities. The posters serve as testimony to an extraordinary era of prosperity in Japan’s history, showcasing the culture’s evolution and impact.
Galerie Geek Art is an art contemporary art gallery based between the heartlands of Japan and India, fostering a contemporary art movement for exchange across the Asian subcontinent and expanding its reach further. Galerie Geek Art showcases visionary artists pushing creative boundaries across various mediums and socio-cultural perspectives. It is committed to fostering global interconnectedness through art.
The footprint of Galerie Geek Art in Asia serves as a dynamic catalyst for embracing craftsmanship and cultural inheritances as the center for exchange, allowing it to create a space for meaningful connections and dialogue. Empowered by the evolving medium of the century, it embraces technology as a tool for artistic expression. Galerie Geek Art functions as a gallery, offering collection advisory and programming in addition to exhibitions.
Galerie Geek Art operates under its parent brand, Geek Pictures Inc., a media and entertainment powerhouse that provides unique creative talent, advertising, animations, and experiences in Japan, China, Thailand, and India.
