"Inner Strength," an exhibition by Polish and Japanese female illustrators, will be held from September 25th to 30th at Spiral Garden on the first floor of Spiral in Omotesando, with the aim of exploring the role and view of women in Polish and Japanese society.


Are Polish women and Japanese women similar? What kind of self-image do they have, what kind of work do they do, what do they do for fun, and what is their view of family in their daily lives? How is the role of women changing in modern society, and what is the "inner strength" that helps women establish their social status? This exhibition presents the results of a project co-organized with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, "Inner Strength: The Women of Poland and Japan," in which female illustrators from Poland and Japan attempt to answer these questions.

For this project, female artists from Poland and Japan were invited to express their own definition of inner strength. From two different parts of the world, two different countries, and Western and Eastern civilizations, they explore how they see themselves, what frameworks they seek to break free from, how different they are, and what they have in common. Revealing traditions, beliefs, superstitions, and the challenges of everyday life and work, they explain how they act and what motivates them. They address the challenges they face, breaking down stereotypes and assigned social roles, while also touching on the wisdom and mutual support passed down through generations. A common thread running through their work is their opposition to injustice and unequal treatment, as well as deep compassion for others.

Works by Ewelina Skowronska
Participating illustrators are Basia Grzybowska Flores, Magda Pilaczynska, Patrycia Podkoscielny, Ewelina Skowronska, and Daria Solak from Poland. The exhibition features memes by Evilina Skowronska, a Polish illustrator based in Tokyo who co-curated the exhibition with Monika Brauntsch of The Spirit of Poland Foundation. The works in this exhibition invite you to reflect on "women." The exhibition's works include: Aoina Hayashi, Hitomi Ito, Aki Ishibashi, Norio Yoshida, Hisae Maeda, Izumi Shiokawa, and Chika Higashi, as well as memes from Japan by Aoina Hayashi, Hitomi Ito, Aki Ishibashi, Norio Yoshida, Hisae Maeda, Izumi Shiokawa, and Chika Higashi. "For centuries, women have had to use their inner strength time and again to fight for equal treatment," says Evilina Skowronska, a Polish illustrator based in Tokyo who co-curated the exhibition with Monika Brauntsch of The Spirit of Poland Foundation. The works in this exhibition invite you to reflect on "women."