Exhibition Details
Alongside the live bunraku performances held at Japan Society this fall, Bunraku Backstage offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the theater. Bunraku, a dramatic art integrating performances of skilled puppetry, shamisen music, and narration, has evolved since the early 17th century in Japan and is recognized by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.”
Additional Details
Showcasing actual working puppets, costumes, props, and instruments on loan from the National Bunraku Theatre, Osaka, in celebration of their 40th anniversary, this exhibition unveils the collaboration that goes into staging a bunraku production. Unexpected multimedia installations by contemporary artists, all of which re-interpret and revive the artistic language of bunraku, explore the theater’s ongoing inspiration and influence.
Location
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
Image: National Bunraku Theatre, Osaka / courtesy of Japan Society