Ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e was first shown as a multi-channel installation in 1996 at the Galerie im Parkhaus, Berlin. This video is based on the original installation loops.

Ukiyo-e, or ukiyo-ye (浮世絵, Japanese: “pictures of the floating world”), are woodblock prints and paintings of such subjects as female beauties; scenes from history and folk tales; travel scenes and landscapes; flora and fauna; and erotica. Many of these prints portray courtesans, and geisha of the pleasure districts. The term ukiyo (“floating world”) came to describe this hedonistic lifestyle.
Parts of such prints are used as layers in this video.

 

This article contains Japanese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of kanji and kana.