Haori. Men’s clothing from the early Twentieth century tells the story of Japan

The exhibition offers a unique window onto Japanese material culture through about 50 haori and juban (the garments worn over and under men’s kimonos, respectively), as well as a few pieces of traditional children’s clothing, from the Manavello collection, in dialogue with installations by contemporary artists.

The exhibition is unprecedented in Italia and indeed Europe, and is therefore an absolute first amongst exhibitions devoted to the art of the Far East.

The imagery that decorates the garments on view is not only an example of fine workmanship, but also a document and attestation that provides insight into Japan in the early Twentieth century, a critical period of social, cultural and political transformation, between accelerated modernisation and imperialist tensions.

Works by contemporary artists are presented within the exhibition to stimulate analysis and reflection, encouraging visitors to orient themselves within a historical period of complex relationships between Japan, China and Korea that is still little-known in Italia.