Under the Wave near Kanagawa
A spectacular exhibition is currently taking place at the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa. The exhibition, beautifully titled "The Wave Effect - From Japanese Icon to Global," opened in December 2024.
At the center of the exhibition is a work of art "Under the Wave, Near Kanagawa" by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. A woodblock print from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji." The work, also known as "The Great Wave," is considered a Japanese masterpiece, one of the most famous in the world. The work shows a huge wave rising from the stormy sea, rocking three small boats, and in the background Mount Fuji, one of the symbols of Japan.
Israeli and Japanese artists
The exhibition presents approximately 80 works by contemporary and early Japanese and Israeli artists. The works correspond with Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave" print. Each of the artists chose their own way to respond to this iconic work. Among the artists exhibiting in the exhibition are: Oscar Oiwa, Keren Benvenisti, Israeli photographer Gaston Zvi Itzkowitz, French photographer Pierre-Aly de Fabrec, Revital Lasik, Michel Kishka, Israeli cartoonist and illustrator Aviv Shraga, Eliav Yosef, Dor Hazut, Han Isho, Chaya Rokin Berkman, Takesada Matsutani, Yakira Ament, Morgan Abu Dibba, Maria Sandler, Mati Elmaleh, Nobuya Yamaguchi, Noya Tzur, Katsushika Hokusai, Salt Group, Shir Golan, Sharon Negusa,. On the walls of the museum's patio are displayed two graffiti works by Haifa artists EREZOO ERCK entitled: "A Complete Circle" and "Human Nature."
Colorful graffiti paintings by EREZOO (Happy Pine) and Human Nature by ERCK (Caspin Pine) are displayed on the museum's patio.
Waves and Mount Fuji
The elements presented in the exhibition are the Great Wave, the boats, and Mount Fuji, which demonstrate the power of nature. The image of waves has existed in Japanese art long before the arrival of the artist Hokusai. The almost mythological mountain has appeared over the years in various mediums such as fabrics, kimonos, various objects, curtains, and more. The waves were often accompanied by dragons, who, according to Japanese tradition, created the great waves and storms.
Tikotin Museum in Haifa
The museum was founded in 1959 by Felix Tikotin and the then mayor of Haifa, Abba Hushi. Tikotin was a Jewish architect from Germany who collected Japanese art and built a rich collection. He came to Israel to donate his special collection. The collection includes approximately 8,000 exhibits of traditional, modern and contemporary Japanese art. The museum is located at 89 Hanasi Boulevard, Haifa, near the Louis Promenade.
The curator of the exhibition is Dr. Eti Glass Gysis and the assistant curator is Eden Schweitzer. The exhibition will close at the end of May 2025.
