V&A: One for the sore eyes

Museums are often viewed as tourist hotspots, a place to check off a bucket list item and move on. However, I recently had the opportunity to view museums in a different light during a visit to London. As a part of an assignment, I was given a purposeful perspective while visiting museums, with each museum assigned a specific question to explore. This approach allowed me to delve deeper into the exhibits and gain a better understanding of the space. One museum that stood out was the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is renowned for its vast collection of art and design pieces from around the world. It was clear from the outset that a single day would not be sufficient to explore all that the museum has to offer.

During my visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum, I had the opportunity to explore the exhibition "Manners and Modernity: Ukiyo-e and etiquette on the Seibu Railway." As a school of Japanese art that originated in the 17th century, Ukiyo-e primarily depicted subjects from everyday life and was prevalent in Japan during the Edo period. With the opening of trade between Japan and the West during the 19th century, Ukiyo-e gained significant popularity in Europe and America, resulting in its influence on Western art and aesthetics becoming known as Japonism. This influence went on to inspire various movements such as Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and Modernism.

To prepare for my visit to the exhibition, I engaged in secondary research using various sources such as blogs, journals, and news articles to gain a better understanding of the history and significance of Ukiyo-e painting. However, I soon realized that secondary research alone was not enough to fully appreciate the cultural significance of the art. Therefore, during my visit to the exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, I approached it with an open mind and a fresh perspective, allowing myself to form my own interpretation of the subject matter.

In this blog post, I will share my experience of visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum, exploring the exhibition "Manners and Modernity: Ukiyo-e and etiquette on the Seibu Railway," and how it transformed my understanding of Ukiyo-e painting and its influence on Western art. I will delve deeper into the cultural significance of the exhibition and how it relates to my research question of exploring contemporary values and hopes for the future through cultural artifacts.

Tourism in Japan has been on the rise in recent years, making the country one of the top travel destinations in the world. One of the most commonly used words to describe the Japanese people is "reserved," which reflects the country's culture of politeness and respect. Japan is renowned for being a safe and pleasant place to live, and its citizens are expected to maintain good manners in public places, including when travelling on trains. Recently, Seibu Railways has garnered attention for its posters that feature traditional Ukiyo-e woodblock paintings, which aim to remind passengers of proper train etiquette. The posters mostly feature Kabuki actors, who are known for their expressive faces, making them an effective tool to convey the message of annoyance caused by noisy train passengers. While Japan is known for its rich cultural heritage, Ukiyo-e and Kabuki actor paintings are among the most relatable forms of Japanese art to the Western world. During my visit to the exhibition "Manners and Modernity: Ukiyo-e and etiquette on the Seibu Railway" at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, I was struck by the bold expressions in the paintings. The chaos in the posters was evident, yet the message was clear and highlighted the importance of incorporating essential messages into everyday public life. I came to appreciate how the artwork served not only as a form of artistic expression but also as a practical tool to promote good behavior and manners among the public. The Ukiyo-e paintings, with their distinct style and imagery, continue to inspire and influence Western artists and movements, such as Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and Modernism, to this day.

As humans, we often find ourselves pondering over questions that help us understand our surroundings and our place in society. One such question that has intrigued many individuals is the concept of culture. In an attempt to delve deeper into this complex topic, I began by mapping out my thoughts and ideas, with the base question being, "What is culture?"

According to the dictionary definition, culture encompasses the beliefs, customs, arts, and other aspects of a particular society, group, place, or time. However, this definition only scratches the surface of what culture truly represents. I was curious to know what makes culture fluid and how it evolves with time. Moreover, I wondered about the human tendencies that would exist in the absence of societal and cultural influences.

Another thought that crossed my mind was the impact of digitalization on cultural boundaries. Could it potentially create a global culture? To understand the dynamics of culture, I also contemplated the instruments that can be used to foster intercultural tolerance, empathy, and respect.

To explore this topic further, I shared an example with my class about a series of posters from my homeland, India. Patriarchy is a dominant culture in India, and the posters depicted what an ideal boy should do, along with a sarcastic reply, "HOW TO BE A BAD GIRL." The latter showcased how difficult it is for women in India to be themselves without facing criticism.

Reflecting on the reactions to these posters, I observed that the majority of men were surprised, while some women nodded in agreement and smirked at the stupidity of the cultural stereotypes portrayed. It became evident to me that understanding culture is an ongoing process that requires constant reflection, questioning, and empathy.

As I conclude this reflection, I realize that the question "What is culture?" has opened up numerous horizons and perspectives that demand further contemplation. It is a question that has given me a sense of purpose and has broadened my understanding of the world around me.