Art Around The World
General
UKIYO-E
Ukiyo-e are painting or prints done in a woodblock that was popularized in the Edo period. It mostly shows geisha, sumo wrestlers or kabuki actors that depicts a life out of ordinary. Ukiyo-e translates to “paintings of the floating world.
CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy is very popular in Japan, it has been hobbies of kids and adults and even to the extent of learning it in elementary school. Calligraphy is the art of writing beautifully. Japanese characters have specific ways on how it should be drawn not just any random scribbling. (Trust me, I am trying to learn Japanese) There are also various styles on writing kanji such as the kaisho, gyosho, sosho.
ORIGAMI
We all know and love doing origami, the art of folding paper. In origami, we fold papers into animals, shapes, flowers and many more beyond our imaginations without using glue or scissors. There’s this saying in Japan, that if you make a thousand origami cranes, your wish will come true as the crane is a sign for longevity and has no become a symbol of peace in Japan.
DOLLS
DARUMA DOLLS
KOKESHI DOLLS
HAKATA DOLLS
Dolls have always been a part of Japan’s culture with a great variety of these dolls. Some of them are even used for festivals or made specifically for that event.
Hina and Samurai dolls used for girl’s and boy’s festival respectively