PHOTO: © Gan Ku (1749/1756-1838), Tiger, Detail, 1822, rechter Stellschirm eines Paares zu je 6 Paneelen, Tusche und Farben auf Papier © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Sammlung Klaus F. und Yoshie Naumann / Jörg von Bruchhausen
Tierisch gut! Fauna und Flora in Kunst aus Japan
In the organizer's words:
In Japan, animals and birds are among the most popular subjects in art, alongside plants, landscapes, and people. From tigers and monkeys to elephants and mice, this selection from the Museum of Asian Art’s collection brings together a veritable zoo of images, prints, ceramics, and lacquerware—all of which can be enjoyed in comfort, even in summer temperatures, within the air-conditioned museum spaces at the Humboldt Forum.
Tigers, whose roars summon the wind, and dragons, which bring rain from the clouds, symbolize control over the elements and wild nature in East Asia. They are therefore closely associated with the representation of power.
Mice and rats are admired for their intelligence and their ability to track down the rice essential for survival even in the most remote corners. Since rice also served as a medium of exchange in Japan until the 19th century, they became a symbol of prosperity.
Other animals, such as horses—which, according to the East Asian zodiac, embody the sign of the year 2026—served as working animals, friends, and companions to humans. Yet when unsaddled in a pasture, they also represent unbridled freedom and untamed energy.
All these and many other qualities can be discovered in the handcrafted depictions of our animal companions on this planet.
A rotating exhibition bythe Museum of Asian Artof the State Museums of Berlin at the Humboldt Forum, Room 318, “Art from Japan”
- Location: Museum of Asian Art, 3rd floor
- Price: regular 14 EUR, starting July 13, 2026: 9 EUR; exhibition ticket for the Ethnological Collections and Asian Art required
- Languages: German / English
- Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Tue: closed
- Dates: June 10, 2026 – September 7, 2026
Location
Weitere Termine von Tierisch gut! Fauna und Flora in Kunst aus Japan
24.
Juni
10:30
Berlin
Humboldt Forum
7,00 to 14,00 €
26.
Juni
10:30
Berlin
Humboldt Forum
7,00 to 14,00 €
27.
Juni
10:30
Berlin
Humboldt Forum
7,00 to 14,00 €
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