Student Exhibition: Responding to... Masterworks by Shibata Zeshin

Works by students from The East-West School of International Studies and The New York City Museum School

The exhibition held at Japan Society, June 11-20. 2008 represented the culmination of a month-long partnership between Japan Society and students at The East-West School of International Studies and The New York City Museum School.

In this multi-part program, high school students from both schools investigated selected cultural, technical and art historical topics related to the Japan Society Gallery exhibition The Genius of Japanese Lacquer: Masterworks by Shibata Zeshin. This included analysis of Japanese traditional and modern motifs, and a critical examination of references to specific aspects of Japanese culture, history and aesthetics.


Joe Earle and students discuss Masterworks by Shibata Zeshin.  © George Hirose.

Students began their study of The Genius of Japanese Lacquer: Masterworks by Shibata Zeshin at their schools with a preview and introductory discussion of the exhibition themes led by Japan Society Program Officer Suzanne de Vegh. On May 20, the 21 participating students visited Japan Society to meet, share a Japanese lunch and participate in a guided discussion of the exhibition with the curator, Japan Society Gallery Director Joe Earle.

The images below are the result of a two-part studio project begun at Japan Society with noted Artist Megumi Nagai. Under Nagai san’s direction, students chose a theme inspired by The Genius of Japanese Lacquer: Masterworks by Shibata Zeshin. After making preparatory sketches, they then drew directly on wooden panels as the foundation for their acrylic paintings.