Travel Tip

Archaic Smile at Miho Museum

Cultural News July 2007 Issue

Cultural News July 2007 Issue

Hariti by Enku, Japan, late 17th century, wood (Courtesy of the Miho Museum)                                   

   The Miho Museum in Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture will present a special exhibition, “Archaic Smile” from July 14 to August 19 as the summer session of its 10th anniversary.

  The term “archaic smile” was used to depict a feature of the human sculptures in the Archaic Period of Ancient Greece. It is a smile which invokes a feeling of happiness blessed by the gods. But not limited strictly in Greek Art and on human images, there are many “archaic smiles” on images of immortals and mortals in ancient arts of both the East and the West.

  The exhibition is composed of some 120 objects with smiles from ancient Near East, Egypt, Aegean region, Central Asia, South Asia, China, Korea and Japan. The visitors to this exhibition will encounter ancient smiles which may invoke happy feelings also in their hearts.

  Private tours are available in Japanese, English and Chinese . Reservations for tours should be made in advance since a limited number of volunteers for this service would be available. 

　　As the Autumn session, “Spanning the Millenia” will be exhibited from September 1 through December 16. www.miho.or.jp