The Ichihara Lakeside Museum in Chiba will be holding a group exhibition of works by 12 female artists, "Considering the Sarashina Diary - A Room of Women's Imagination," from April 6th to July 15th, inspired by the classic literary diary, "The Sarashina Diary."




The famous "Sarashina Diary," a classic of Japanese literature, is said to have been written 1,000 years ago during the Heian period by a 13-year-old girl, Sugawara no Takasue no Musume, in what is now Ichihara City, where the museum is currently located. This exhibition chronicles the 40-year journey of a woman who, while dealing with the ups and downs of real-world life, continued to embrace the fantasy world of her childhood. Her worldview is sure to resonate with women today.

What kind of expression is a diary for women? It's personal, yet it connects us to others and the world; it's a daily record, yet it also serves as a creative chamber, allowing our imaginations to flourish. Against this backdrop, this exhibition presents the diverse, unique, and intimate imaginative worlds of 12 female artists. Bringing together female artists active in a wide range of fields, from art to design, manga, comedy, and dance, this exhibition offers a diverse range of media, from handwritten diaries to installations, video works, embroidery, needlework, and photography.


Yui Usui "empty names" Photography: Futoshi Miyagi

The works on display include "empty names" by Yui Usui, which was inspired by the French perfume "MITSOUKO" and explores the relationship between self and others, and "10" by Mariko Oya, a series of photographs taken in churches. The exhibition features works such as "Flowers," the original illustrations for Machiko Kyo's debut work "Sennen Gaho," Haruka Aragami's "toi, toi, toi," a chandelier made from broken glass from wrecked cars that she collected night after night, Tomoko Konoike's "Storytelling Table Runner," which has been one of her life's works since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, Junko Gosho's handwritten diary "The Volatilizing Night of Thunbergia," a daily calendar that she began publishing on her blog on January 1, 2010, collaged from women's magazines, and Yasuko Mitsuura's handicrafts, which she has been steadily creating for many years.

Yasuko Mitsuura "Mayland" Photography: Tada

Erika Kobayashi "Your Dear Kitty, 2 Diaries" ©Erika Kobayashi Courtesy of Yutaka Kikutake Gallery
Also, UMMMI.'s "ROSE The exhibition will feature a video installation of "CITY," an installation by Erika Kobayashi centered on "2 Diaries," a video work based on Anne Frank and her father's diary, and an installation by Akiko and Masako Takada that combines embroidered works. Mikuni Yanaihara will exhibit excerpts from short stories and video works written specifically for this exhibition, as well as a performance that reflects the contents of the exhibition during the period, and Yoshie Watanabe will be in charge of creating graphics for the exhibition's promotional materials and will also be presenting works using everyday items that she has cherished and collected.

Yoshie Watanabe "What I gave them back" Photography: Yasutomo Ebisu

The exhibition will be like peering into the imagination of each of the 12 groups. There are also plans to hold a number of events related to the exhibition. Details will be announced on the museum's website as soon as they are decided.