From the very beginning, the State Museum at Majdanek, intended as a place to commemorate the victims of the Nazi totalitarian system, was of interest to artists who, through their work, expressed their opposition to war, hatred, intolerance – to the dehumanisation of human beings. Both the exhibition activity of the Museum, which started to develop as early as in 1944, and then also the International Art Triennial, organised from 1985 to 2004, attracted numerous artists inspired by this difficult history. Their result is the Museum’s collection of contemporary art – one of the largest in the world – devoted in its program and artistic assumptions to the victims of Nazi cruelty, people of struggle, their tragic experiences, as well as subsequent events, post-war armed conflicts, and various forms of discrimination.

The works of authors from Japan displayed at this exhibition constitute a unique group from this rich collection. The exposition presents creations of 16 artists, distinguished by excellent technique, original stylistic solutions, exoticism, subtlety and decorativeness, as well as the variety of techniques used. Akito Tanimura represents relief print – woodcuts, while intaglio: Kyoko Sato – drypoint; Jinan Kobayashi, Masataka Kuroyanagi, Katsunori Hamanishi – mezzotint; Yuji Hiratsuka – relief and Chinese ink. Naoki Tajima and Toshio Yoshizumi are the authors of the creations made in the etched technique – etchings and aquatints. The flat printing technique is the works of Susumu Endo and Shinichiro Harusawai – lithographs, while the screen printing technique is presented by serigraphs created by: Humio Tomita, Masahiro Fukuda, Sho Shimokawa and Hiroko Yabe. Acrylics are the works of Yamana Masao. The collection of graphic art includes pieces awarded by the Jury of the 5th and 6th International Art Triennial: Majdanek '97 and Majdanek 2000 – the winners were: Yuji Hiratsuka, Masataka Kuroyanagi and Yamana Masao.

The unique character of Japanese culture results from its flexibility and openness to external influences, while at the same time adapting them to native patterns. From the earliest times, this art was closely integrated with everyday life. Zen, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, which over the centuries acquired an expressive, individual style, minimalist and full of deliberate paradoxes, has a great influence on shaping the local culture. Japan is a country of great respect for nature, and its inhabitants derive great joy from being able to admire it and reflect on it. This aesthetics of life is also reflected in art itself. It is based on the harmony of contrasts, and therefore when contemplating the local works, one should be careful when formulating any generalisations. On the one hand, trends dominated by splendor and an abundance of forms are noticeable. On the other hand, in the artistic expression we find naturalness, economy of means, calmness – namely, the features most often and most willingly quoted in discussions about the Japanese understanding of beauty. All this makes the art of the Land of the Rising Sun mysterious, intriguing, non-obvious – one of a kind.

Concept of the exhibition: Marta Jabłońska
Editing and proofreading: Magdalena Petruk, Dorota Niedziałkowska, Lech Remiszewski
Translation: Lech Remiszewski
Graphic design: Ewelina Kruszewska
The date of the exhibition, venue: May 22, 2021 – July 1, 2021 (Visitor Service Centre)