The Japan Society is delighted to invite members and friends to a guided tour of the exhibition Edo Pop: Japanese Prints 1825–1895 and Hiroko Imada at Watts with curator Dr Laura MacCulloch, and artist, Hiroko Imada.

Edo Pop: Japanese Prints 1825–1895 explores the dynamic history of Edo, modern day Tokyo, a thriving hub that flourished during a time of seclusion and tranquillity. Focusing on the period 1825 – 1895, this is the first public display for a number of Japanese woodblock prints that portray the characters and daily lives of Edo's locals.

In the Sculpture Gallery, we will be joined by Hiroko Imada, whose new installation work celebrates the natural themes in response to the prints in the Edo Pop exhibition and showcasing the continuing influence of the historic process of Japanese woodblock printing. Guests will have a unique chance to hear Hiroko explain the complex technique and process of traditional multicolour woodblock printing, which requires many years of training.

In the afternoon, guests will have free time to explore other areas of Watts Gallery and the Artists’ Village including the Hanga Ten at Watts: Japanese printmaking today exhibition at Watts Contemporary Gallery, the exquisite Victorian art in the Historic Galleries, the magical Watts Cemetery Chapel, and the artists' historic home, Limnerslease. Guests are welcome to roam around the 18 acres of woodland and immaculately kept spring gardens.

Participants may wish to buy lunch at the Watts Gallery Tea Shop or bring a packed lunch with them.

Dr Laura MacCulloch has worked as a curator in art galleries for 20 years. Her specialisms are British Art from 1780-1950 and women artists. After graduating from university she taught English for two years in Japanese schools on the JET scheme. When she returned to the UK she explored the influence of Japanese art on the Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) for her MPhil. Her PhD focused on the drawings of another 19th century British artist Ford Madox Brown(1821-1893). She has a passion for creating exhibitions and displays that give visitors the chance to engage in new ways with works of art. She has thoroughly enjoyed co-curating the exhibition Edo Pop: Japanese Prints 1825 - 1895 and being able bring these prints to new audiences.

Hiroko Imada is a London-based painter, printmaker and site-specific installation artist. She studied art at the Tokyo Zokei University and The Slade School of Fine Art and has exhibited throughout Europe and Japan. In 2021, Hiroko was commissioned by the British Museum to create a woodblock print inspired by Hokusai’s drawing and its process was recorded to create a film to run at the exhibition ‘Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything’ from 30 September 2021 to January 2022 at the British Museum. Imada’s new site-specific installation work Sakura saku ('Cherry blossoms are blooming') is currently showing at Watt’s Gallery to coincide the exhibition, Edo Pop: Japanese Prints 1825 - 1895.

Hiroko also specialises in teaching Japanese woodblock printing, papermaking, folded screenmaking, and hanging scroll making. Since 2000 she has been teaching the Japanese woodblock printing regularly at the British Museum and from 2017 the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Hiroko is a member of the Japan Artists Association & the International Association of Art.  

Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village is the legacy of Victorian artist George Frederic Watts (1817 - 1904) and renowned designer Mary Watts (1849 - 1938), champions of Art for All. Watts Gallery first opened to the public in 1904 and underwent a major restoration in 2011. The permanent collection includes paintings, sculptures and pottery. Visitors can visit George and Mary’s historic home Limnerslease, designed by famed Arts & Crafts architect Sir Ernest George. Watts Gallery is located in the heart of the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email us at: events@japansociety.org.uk.

Images: Left: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原 国周 (1835 - 1900), Three Otokodate and the New Shimbashe Station (detail), 1872, Colour print from woodblocks © Collection: Frank Milner; Right: Watts Gallery.