2024/11/03 Closing/ “Yes, KAWAII is Art – EXPRESS YOURSELF-“ in Ovation Hollywood, May 2-Nov. 3

The JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will present new exhibition “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-“ from Thursday, May 2, 2024 through Sunday, November 3, 2024 at the JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2 at the Ovation Hollywood shopping center in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Gallery admission is free.

Japanese kawaii culture has evolved into a global phenomenon, captivating people across borders and transcending cultural boundaries.

The term “kawaii” translates to “cute” or “adorable,” yet its influence has come to extend far beyond aesthetics, encompassing fashion, art, technology, and even social behavior.

With the exhibition, “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-,” JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is excited to partner with artist Sebastian Masuda to share an in-depth look at the origins of the colorful kawaii style, its development and its profound cultural significance, transcending its perception as a fashion look or trend.

The exhibition features Masuda’s Kawaii Chronicle created as part of a research project led by the artist and his studio in collaboration with Kyoto University of the Arts, which illustrates the historical roots of kawaii culture in Japan, tracing its evolution from post-war media and shōjo (girls) manga to its expansion into a global phenomenon from within the Harajuku district of Tokyo in the 1990s.

Multiple art pieces from Masuda’s catalog foster discovery and engagement. Pieces like Digital Tribe World Map and Sense Share Bear, an interactive VR work, were inspired by the desire of the global kawaii network to connect with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An intimate, immersive room installation, Colorful Rebellion –Seventh Nightmare– envelopes small groups of guests in the colors and aesthetic of kawaii developed by Masuda from the epicenter of Harajuku.

Masuda’s objective within the exhibition is to analyze and share his perspectives on kawaii, unveiling its diverse aspects. Masuda describes kawaii as “a personal microcosmos of beloved things, undisturbed by anyone else.”

This exhibition vividly reflects these words, inviting the audience into an adventure of self-expression, unlocking the infinite potential held within each individual.

Exhibition Credits
Presented by JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles
Curatorial Supervision: Sebastian Masuda Studio, and Six Percent Inc.
With support from ASOBISYSTEM Co., Ltd.