Japan Modern Poster

The major spring exhibition at Designmuseum Danmark features an abundance of Japanese graphic design. Here, the public can experience a series of iconic posters from Japan, which, in addition to being visually appealing, thought-provoking, and humorous, also unfold an interesting narrative about Japan's historical and cultural development from the 1950s right up to today.

The exhibition begins with the pioneer generation, who studied Western design and established their own characteristic expressions after World War II, and highlights designers who flourished during Japan's period of rapid economic growth and achieved international recognition. The story opens with the first generation of designers who were inspired by Western trends but quickly found their own distinct expressions in the post-World War II era. It also showcases the designers who flourished and gained international recognition during Japan's economic growth.

In the exhibition, the public encounters works that reflect on the darker sides of society, address current issues, and express a strong desire for peace. Furthermore, the exhibition offers an opportunity to explore the significant influence of Western modernist design and its fusion with Japan's traditional aesthetics. The many iconic posters show how the unique Japanese poster tradition has developed – and how the poster as a form of expression functions as a mirror of its time.

Poster designed for the exhibition

The acclaimed Japanese designer Shin Matsunaga has designed a new poster specifically for the exhibition at the design museum, which explores the design similarities between the Danish and Japanese flags. Matsunaga sees a visual kinship between the flags of the two nations, which, in addition to having colors and a simple design in common, are also characterized by being highly cherished by their respective populations.

Japan Modern Poster is the largest exhibition in the museum's history dedicated to Japanese poster design and was created in collaboration with the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion, which selected and lent the 110 works in the exhibition from its large collection.