Aiko Sugie | "Beautiful Utopia: Portraits of Modern Japan Dreaming of an Ideal Land"
This exhibition introduces various art and cultural movements in early 20th-century Japan that dreamed of an ideal way of life, such as the Mingei Movement.Summary
Held from January 15 to March 22, 2026, at the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, this exhibition reviews the figures of modern Japan who dreamed of an ideal land, termed 'Utopia,' amidst the current paradigm shift brought by AI. Starting with the Mingei Movement led by Yanagi Sōetsu, it covers various artistic, craft, and architectural trends from the early 20th century, including the fieldwork of architect Ima Warojirō, the emergence of suburban ateliers and artist colonies, Yamamoto Kanae's Peasant Art Movement, the activities of Miyazawa Kenji, and post-war urban regeneration efforts by Inoue Fusao and others. The author suggests that while people a century ago struggled to find hope in a rapidly changing society and had time for deep reflection, contemporary society risks abandoning independent thought by over-relying on advanced technology like AI. The article concludes by urging a serious reconsideration of what kind of utopia humans, keeping humanity central, should strive for to achieve collective happiness.
(Source：artscape)