2024/1/18: Japan Foundation to present Online Lecture “Ningyo: The Beauty and Artistry of Japanese Dolls” by Meher McArthur, Thursday, Jan. 18, 7:00-7:40PM

Japan Foundation Los Angeles
ONLINE lecture series 3

Ningyo: The Beauty and Artistry of Japanese Dolls
Thursday, January 18, 2024
7:00 pm – 7:40 pm (Pacific Time)

This program will be held online, admission is free,
RSVP is required.

Japan’s dolls are famous throughout the world as elegant works of art that are more for display than play. Hina dolls, in particular, wear kimono and elaborate hairstyles, and for several centuries have been central in Hina Matsuri, a traditional festival celebrating girls. Others, such as turned-wood Kokeshi, finely sculpted Saga dolls, painted ceramic Hariko dolls, and folded paper Chiyogami dolls have been crafted and treasured in different regions of Japan for many generations.

In conjunction with Japan Foundation’s video series, Doors to the Arts of Japan, Japanese art historian Meher McArthur will introduce some of Japan’s most well-known types of traditional dolls, from Hina to Kokeshi, touching on their materials, styles and production, as well as their functions. She will also showcase the works of contemporary doll maker Kimiko Muraoka Koyanagi, who is still creating exquisite dolls at the age of 91 years old. The short lecture will be followed with a brief Q&A session.

About the lecturer

Meher McArthur is an Asian art historian specializing in Japanese art, with degrees from Cambridge University and London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

She was Curator of East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA (1998-2006) and for over a decade has curated traveling exhibitions for International Arts & Artists (IA&A), most recently Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper (2021-2024) on view at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego until January 7, 2024.