Auckland Council Libraries is delighted to co-host the international touring exhibition ‘Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan’ at Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Central City Library from 29 September to 6 November 2022.
Mirla Edmundson, General Manager of Auckland Council’s Connected Communities, says it is an honour to work closely with the Consulate General of Japan in presenting the exhibition to Aucklanders.
“This is an exciting time for Auckland Council Libraries to be co-hosting an exceptional internationally touring exhibition and forging new connections with art, literature and activities on offer this spring.”
Yokai Parade features over 100 works which will be displayed throughout the three public floors of the library, including the Auckland Heritage Collection Gallery.
Curated by Yumoto Koichi, one of Japan’s foremost yokai (Japanese folkloric imaginary monsters) scholars, the exhibition introduces yokai culture to audiences from Tāmaki Makaurau and will include artwork from the Edo period through to the present day in a variety of media showcasing the far-reaching influence of yokai on Japanese culture.
Aucklanders will be able to take in picture scrolls, nishiki-e (multicolored Japanese woodblock print), toys and other forms of contemporary pop culture such as manga and anime.
Mr. Shinichi Hamada, Consul-General of Japan in Auckland said, “We are pleased to co-host this extraordinary exhibition with Auckland Council and Auckland Central City Library in a commemorative year which marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and New Zealand. We are grateful for their cooperation and all efforts to bring it to fruition. This exhibition will introduce the unique spiritual world of yokai dynamically and vividly and we hope this will provide an opportunity for visitors to discover an unfamiliar aspect of Japanese culture: the world of Yokai.”
Japanese yokai have appeared in a variety of tales as characters that express supernatural powers, serving to instill surprise and fear in people. As the development of new technology brought changes to people’s lives, yokai have become less of a subject of fear, to now being viewed as a more charming and friendly presence.
The exhibition focuses on the ‘popularisation’ of these yokai, inviting viewers to explore a world of mystery.
Alongside the exhibition, an exciting range of family activities, performances and events will also be on offer to make this fully interactive celebration of the diverse cultures of Tāmaki Makaurau.
‘Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan’ is organised by Auckland Council Libraries in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japan Foundation.
Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan
29 September – 06 November 2022
Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Central City Library
Monday - Friday 9AM to 8PM / Saturday – Sunday 10AM to 5PM
44-46 Lorne St, Auckland Central
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Free Admission
