In the land of subtleties

The inspiration behind each of our exhibitions is unique.

Some take shape in a very concrete way. Others emerge as a fantasy. They are abstract and take form in our imagination, flowing freely. This is how Shiro: a spectrum of shades came to be.

After reading a Japanese classic (Snow Country, by Yasunari Kawabata) for the JHSP Book Club, I found myself dreaming of the infinitely white landscapes of northern Japan. The calm, the vastness of the view, the variations of light, all the possibilities presented by the vast expanse of white, the unlimited horizon leaving the end open… all of this began to fill my thoughts.

The novel described specifically a white fabric bleached by the snow. White upon white. That was when I realized that the way the Japanese people think about the color white is a prime example of the attention to details so deeply rooted in this culture.

It is a country that goes so far as to see the difference between shades of white; just look at the number of shades of white cataloged or the existence of a vocabulary with countless specific words for each type of snow in Japanese.

In Japan, one realizes that subtleties and nuances are noticed. It is a meticulous country, with a keen eye for detail that manifests in the sensitivity with which they welcome guests, in the understanding that beauty is also functionality, in the concern to avoid excess...

From these musings, a discussion began among the curatorial team to bring all of this to life in an exhibition.

Snow, salt, paper, and silk were the elements we chose, as they are significant in Japanese culture and serve as symbols of this concept, arranged in clusters. To create an abstract and sensory connection, we included works of art and a ritualistic element drawn from Shintoism that complement the visitor experience. We hope to offer a careful observation and a poetic connection to more aspects of this delicate culture, inspiring more attentive perspectives.

Natasha Barzaghi Geenen

Exhibition Curator and Cultural Director of Japan House São Paulo

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