An exhibition showcasing "Window Flowers: Paper-Cutouts Celebrating Life," showcasing the "Window Flowers" (madohana) decorations found in homes in central China to welcome the New Year, will be held at ATELIER MUJI inside MUJI Yurakucho in Tokyo's Yurakucho district from December 2 to January 22, 2017.

This is the season when people pray for peace as they welcome the New Year. In central China, people decorate the windows of their homes with small paper-cutouts known as "window flowers" to welcome the new year. This exhibition showcases these simple and warm window flowers, handcrafted by rural women. The exhibit features a variety of works depicting animals and plants essential to the lives of the local people, as well as imaginary characters and creatures, all created using only scissors and paper. Also on display will be the facades of homes carved into natural cliffs where local people live. On December 7th, a workshop will be held where visitors will try their hand at making window flowers while watching footage filmed on site. On January 16th, 2017, there will be an event where visitors can watch the video work "Younger Minger Sanwa," depicting scenes of local New Year's Eve and weddings, and hear stories about the handiwork and fieldwork that went into making them. Also on the same day, there will be a screening of "A Little Agreement in Yaodong Building," a French documentary film that beautifully depicts the process of building yaodong and won the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award at the Jean Rouch International Film Festival in 2012. After the screening, architecture critic Taro Igarashi and one of the exhibition's planning collaborators will talk about the appeal of the cave dwellings rooted in the loess earth.
[Event Information]
"Cutout Window Flowers Celebrating Daily Life" Exhibition
Venue: ATELIER MUJI
Address: 2F MUJI Yurakucho, Infos Yurakucho, 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Dates: December 2nd - January 22nd, 2017
Time: 10:00 - 21:00
Admission free
Closed: January 1st, 2017