Remnants of the Jazz Age are still rooted in American culture, but the movement influenced the Far East as well.
For nearly two years, the Columbia Museum of Art has been working on showing an exhibit that is almost revolutionary in what it reveals. “Japan and the Jazz Age” opens today, and with its opening comes a slew of new information about Japan and the art deco movement of the interwar period.
Containing almost 125 objects ranging from wood block prints to matchbook covers, “Japan and the Jazz Age” shows how the jazz age of the 1920s impacted Japan after the first World War. Many don’t consider Japan to have been affected by jazz in the way that New York, Chicago and Paris are known for. But a closer look at the exhibit shows that indeed, Japan was influenced equally as much, and it is reflected in the art.
The idea for the exhibit started with Museum Director Karen Brosius, and Curator Victoria Cooke. Upon hearing about the exhibit’s opening in Florida, the pair decided it would be a good idea to venture down and take a look for themselves. According to Communications Manager Dickson Monk, upon taking a closer look at the exhibit, the two women thought it spoke culturally and historically to the audience, and thus, the idea began.
The Japanese blended art deco with their traditional style of painting and creating during this period of extreme social and political change. While most may not guess Japan was influenced by the jazz movement, “this was a radical and new movement … that was embraced by the young and the cosmopolitan. It was a kind of avante garde happening,” Monk said. Even Japan had its own version of the flapper, called the moga.
The exhibit itself is not limited to a certain audience. Monk explains that he has spoken with people from all different angles and whether you love clothing, music, sculpture, history or furniture, there will be something there for you to enjoy. For this particular exhibit, Columbia Museum of Art is partnering with the Riverbanks Zoo to do a scavenger hunt aimed at children. There will be a list of animals for children to find throughout the exhibit, and when they go to the zoo, they will be challenged to find those same animals again.
The fascination with Japan doesn’t stop there. While this exhibit is on display, there is another exhibit called, “Meiji Magic: Imperial Porcelain from Japan,” that displays 13 different ceramic pieces from the collection of Alex and Barbara Kasten. These pieces are from the Meiji period in Japan, which took place from the late 1800s to 1912.
See the exhibit through April 20 at the Columbia Museum of Art, located at 1515 Main Street.