A Floating World. Movement and Impermanence in Japanese Art

This book demonstrates how Japanese art aesthetically permeates and comments on the changes and uncertainties of existence in a variety of ways. It deals with weathered wooden sculptures, Hokusai's "Great Wave" as well as tea ceramics, some of which have been skilfully repaired with gold lacquer. Also on display are images depicting human life with and on the water, cherry blossom festivals and courtly butterfly dances. With Ueda Rikuo, Hide Nasu, Shiriagari Kotobuki, Peter Granser and Mari Kashiwagi, surprising positions in contemporary art, tea culture and poetry have their say, reflecting in different ways the panta rhei attitude to life that has always characterised Japan.