Skopje, 1 July 2024

Press release - The Embassy of Japan had the pleasure to organize the traveling exhibition “Japanese Floating World” of the great Japanese woodblock masters from the 17th and 18th centuries.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and North Macedonia, 30 UKIYO-E prints have traveled from Veles to Prilep, Resen, Ohrid, Makedonski Brod, Sveti Nikole, Negotino, Gevgelija and Bogdanci. In each city the students had the opportunity to learn about the life and art of the Edo period when these woodblocks were created and inspired by the female beauty, kabuki theatre, sumo wrestlers, the flora and fauna etc. The woodblock prints had an immense influence on the French impressionists and European post-impresionism.

The final exhibition has been opened in Skopje by Ambassador Otsuka, Mr. Antonio Dimitrov, Director of the Cultural Informative Center- Skopje, Ms. Maja Stefkova from AOTS Macedonia as well as the curator of the exhibition, Ms. Jasmina Namicheva.

The children’s drawings from the workshops are included in the final exhibition and all children have received certificates for participation, while Ambassador Otsuka and AOTS Macedonia have received an UKIYO-E print from Tōshūsai Sharaku.

The UKIYO-E prints were donated by the Society of Macedonian-Japanese Friendship and Cooperation and have traveled thanks to Mr. Goran Antevski, “AOTS Macedonia” and “Rade Konchar TEP” on the initiative of Ms. Jasmina Namicheva (“MuseumLink” and “Arhifakt”) and the Embassy of Japan. The final exhibition in Skopje has been enabled by Mr. Antonio Dimitrov and the team of the Cultural informative – Center supported by Tikvesh and Pivara Skopje. The exhibition in Skopje will be available until July 5th.

Embassy of Japan

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Photo: Embassy of Japan