The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery continues this summer with its exhibition of The Tale of Shuten Dōji (to 9/20).  Many years in the making, the small, but judicious selection of Japanese art is seen for the first time together in over 20 years.  All but 2 pieces, come from either the Sackler or Freer.  I won't repeat the involved tale - a good description can be found on the website http://www.asia.si.edu/ - other than to say that anyone who knows of The Odyssey or The Saint George Legend or even The Lord of the Rings will be familiar with it: a monster (Shuten Dōji), damsels in distress, hero (Raiko) royally authorized quest journey, deception leading to the slaying of said monster, and triumphant homecoming. It is a classic tale of the triumph of good over evil.   It was thought to be popular because it dealt with the way of the samurai, loyalty to the emperor, and the appeal of a warrior culture. 

The exhibit, depicting the popular tenth century Japanese legend, explores works by artists working during the Edo period (1615-1868) and consists of illustrated hand scrolls, screens, paintings, fans, and books, in some cases further depicted in calligraphy.  The works were drawn from written and pictorial fragments as well as No and Kabuki theater.  The art should best be viewed as through the eyes of the Japanese viewer: forget western conventions of perspective, composition, and reality.  Indeed the roots of Japanese film, manga, and anime, can be seen in these pictorial narratives.   The Sackler staff also indicate that a familiarity with Japanese culture is helpful - skip the clichés - so Goggle some references or pick-up your old copy of Shōgun (or rent the video) to get the subtext.

The scrolls and the screens, in particular, read right to left, employ missing roofs, clouds, and smoke or mist to dissolve time and space, and in what we might today call fade in and out, zoom, and jump cuts, move the story along pictorially.  The curatorial and design team mounting the exhibit have done a nice job setting up the show with charts to indicate how to read the compositions, the low lighting well positioned to illuminate the works, and notes which add to, but do not distract from the viewing experience.  Turn off the left side of your brain and try viewing the art closely, in its totality, before reading the notes.  The works are comfortably spaced over a few large rooms and do not overwhelm the visitor as has been the case in some previous exhibits. You will appreciate the vivid colors and fine execution of form in these well preserved works that were typically displayed only on special occasions.  I hope this is one of them for you!