The Theater of Digital Art (ToDA) in Dubai presents Van Gogh x Japan, a breathtaking educational exhibition which showcases this famous Dutch post-impressionist artist’s masterpieces and lets one learn about the influence Japanese art had on his work. Covering 1,800 m2, the venue offers visitors an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the displayed artworks thanks to a 360° projection of images over the walls and ceiling. The show will be open to the public until the 12th of November, 2023.
Japanese art, particularly the Ukiyo-e style, had a special place among the numerous sources of Van Gogh’s inspiration. Ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”) was widely popular in Japan during the Edo period (17-19th centuries) and involved woodblock printing and painting. The most often depicted subjects were women, actors, landscapes, and folk tales. It is worth noting that Ukiyo-e profoundly influenced not only Van Gogh, but also a lot of other post-impressionist artists in Europe.
At the Van Gogh x Japan show, on view are some of the greatest works of both East and West. Combining the artist’s genius with the cultural heritage of Japan, it grants a truly dream-like experience to the visitors.
Apart from admiring the enchanting art pieces by Van Gogh and the Ukiyo-e prints, one is also offered to join three workshops. You can take part in Tea Tasting, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, or try your hand at Japanese flower arrangement in the Ikebana masterclass. There is the Haiku workshop as well, where participants can familiarise themselves with the traditional Japanese short-form poetry and write their own poem. Besides, while in the Theater, you should take the chance to visit its Secret Room. It displays modern art created using traditional techniques by such Japanese art practitioners as Eri Harigai (a stage visual artist); Kaoru Tanaka (a designer and digital artist); Chromory (an artist, designer, and movie editor); Kota Nakazono (a 3D visual artist); and Saeko Ehara (a digital artist and VJ).
To get more information about the Van Gogh x Japan exhibition, please visit its official web page.
You may also be interested in visiting Aya, a HyperSpace in WAFI City mall, Dubai.
