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Walki samurajów (Samurai Fights): Japanese Ukiyo-e Inspired Art & Bushido Exhibition

Discover 60 powerful artworks showcasing samurai warriors, their combat, and the spirit of bushido.

The 'Walki samurajów' (Samurai Fights) exhibition presented 60 original artworks deeply inspired by 18th-century Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Visitors explored vivid depictions of samurai warriors engaged in close-quarters combat with various traditional weapons, alongside themes of the bushido ethical code. This unique collection also coincided with the launch of a related book by Professor Wojciech Zabłocki, offering a deeper dive into Japanese culture and fencing history.

About Walki samurajów at Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Walki samurajów at Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw

Exhibition summary

This exhibition, titled 'Walki samurajów' (Samurai Fights), showcases 60 works inspired by 18th-century Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The art focuses on samurai warriors, their combat with various weapons, and their adherence to the ethical code of bushido. The exhibition also coincided with the promotion of a book by Wojciech Zabłocki on the same theme.

Curatorial context

The 'Walki samurajów' (Samurai Fights) exhibition at the Museum of Sport and Tourism features 60 pieces drawing inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints created from the 18th century onwards by artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Chikanobu Toyohara, Katsushika Hokusai, and Andō Hiroshige. These works interweave fragments of master artists' pieces, with a constant element in the watercolors being close-quarters combat with bladed weapons. The samurai, renowned for their adherence to the ethical code of bushido, were depicted utilizing a variety of weaponry from bows and arrows to spears and swords, with the sword being their primary armament. The exhibition's opening on January 23, 2017, was marked by a vernissage and the promotion of the book "Walki Samurajów." This beautifully published album, created by the Museum, serves as a comprehensive resource for fencing enthusiasts and admirers of Japanese culture alike. It includes illustrations of Professor Wojciech Zabłocki's exhibited works, accompanied by insightful descriptions and drawings of tsuba (guards for Japanese swords). The book was available for purchase at the museum kiosk or via the museum's website.

Admission and ticket notes

The exhibition was open until February 27, 2017. Visitors could purchase the accompanying book 'Walki Samurajów' at the museum kiosk or order it through the museum's website. Specific ticketing details for exhibition entry are not provided on this page, suggesting it may have been included with general museum admission or was a temporary event display related to the book launch at the Centrum Olimpijskie.

Walki samurajów key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Walki samurajów at Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw

Venue
Museum of Sport and Tourism
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
From Jan 23, 2017
Artist line / attribution
The exhibition features works inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Chikanobu Toyohara, Katsushika Hokusai, and Andō Hiroshige. The exhibition and book promotion were associated with Professor Wojciech Zabłocki, a renowned Polish fencer, architect, and artist, and included contributions from Sensei Jakub Zeman.
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