Exhibitions

There are some exquisite items on display in the Shah 'Abbas exhibition. The calligraphy and manuscripts are as beautiful as any Western illuminated manuscript. The style might be different but the colour, the finely painted flora and the attention to detail are as aesthetically stunning. Oddly, some of the most lovely items are metallic flasks, with their sinuous shapes and Islamic decoration, although some are influenced by Indian art. In fact, not all the exhibits are Iranian. Shah 'Abbas donated works from his own collections to religious institutions and there are early Chinese and Vietnamese ceramics displayed alongside later Iranian items that they influenced. As Iran was at the centre of trade routes passing East to West, it's not surprising that such influences should occur.
On then to Japanese art. I love landscape and nature prints but have never been quite so fond of those featuring the human figure. However, among Kuniyoshi's warriors, geishas and actors there is a wealth of energy and imagination. Famous warriors fight mythical beasts, actors appear in their famous roles and, as a way of circumventing censorship, animals adopt human guise. Several prints are even in the triptych format. The joins might be obvious and the colour might vary across the 3 sheets but it provides a different overall effect to the usual single sheet print. It doesn't just lend itself to epic subject matter either. It works just as well for portraits of women at work or play. There are also humorous prints to outwit the censors, with octopi behaving as humans and a pleasure district populated by sparrows. The playfulness is what sticks in the mind rather than the belligerent heroes.