Kawaii art exhibitions

Exhibitions of kawaii artworks are common in Japan’s museums and art galleries. Many of these paintings and drawings are hundreds of years old, yet even today they look modern. 

Art exhibition catalogue for Fuchu Museum’s “Cute Edo Paintings” 2014

This exhibition at the Fuchu Art Museum divided kawaii artworks into several areas: works that evoke feelings such as pity, kenage (admiration for something small trying its best despite its diminutive size), humor, pure/innocent and small/alone; general principles such as geometry of form, minimalist techniques and reiteration; childlike forms; and qualities such as the charms of awkwardness and naivety. 

Soboku-e exhibition, Mitsui Memorial Museum, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. 2019 Summer

“Soboku-e” is not really a common word: it was probably made up for this exhibition. “Soboku” means naive, simple, no-frills, or idyllic. The subtitle means “Naive, cute and happy arts.”