Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints

Artwork (5)

Yōkai are mysterious phenomena and bizarre creatures that have inhabited Japan's landscapes, homes, folklore, and imagination for centuries. At times, yōkai refers to the appearance of benign spirits, and other times to evil entities, ranging from shape-shifting animals to vengeful ghosts. They also include tales of transformed humans, gods, demons, goblins, monsters, and unexplainable events.

Many of these supernatural creatures and their activities have been described in folklore, legends, and historical texts, influencing paintings, theater, and even modern pop culture. On loan from Scripps College, this exhibition presents 80 works — featuring not only Edo period woodblock prints but also printed books (e-hon) spanning over 250 years — that explore the realm of the supernatural.

Admission Information

Admission is free for members, $5 for students and seniors with I.D., and $8 for nonmembers.

When planning your visit, please consider purchasing or reserving admission in advance to view the exhibition. We welcome walk-up visitors.

Purchase or Reserve Your Admission

Hours

Wednesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

During Thanksgiving Week:

Closed Thursday, November 23
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, November 24

Photography

Photography without flash is permitted.

Related Programs and Tours

Opening Reception
Friday, September 30, 2022
6:30 – 8 p.m.

Press Release

For high-resolution images, please email Stephanie Todd-Wong, Director of Communications and Audience Engagement: [email protected]
To download a PDF copy of this release, please click here

HOUSTON, September 22, 2022 — Asia Society Texas’ (AST) newest exhibition, Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints, revels in the eerie and mystical realms found in Japanese myths and legends. Yōkai — meaning “mysterious apparitions” —take the form of demons, monsters, shape-shifting animals, and trickster spirits, and have been found in folklore, historical texts, paintings, and theatre for centuries. This exhibition, on loan from Scripps College, presents 80 works featuring Edo period woodblock prints and e-hon (picture books) spanning over 250 years. Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural opens on Friday, September 30, and remains on view through December 11, 2022.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the spread of woodblock printing fostered a highly literate population, spurring publishers to mass-produce woodblock prints and illustrated books depicting scenes of the modern world as well as popular literature and legends. By the 19th century, characters and scenes of the supernatural became hugely popular as books and prints made them accessible to a wide audience. Celebrated artists like Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) filled their designs with creepy — and sometimes comical — creatures, devilish demons, and grotesque ghosts. Many of their yōkai have inspired depictions in manga and anime today. 

The collection of prints on view highlights the complicated and multistep process involved in woodblock printing. Once designed, the image is carved into a block of wood leaving only the outlines of the artist’s design in the block. Additional blocks are carved for each color in the design with registration marks added to ensure the colors align perfectly. Different colored ink is placed on the blocks and transferred to the paper, one after the other to create the brightly colored and intricate designs featured in the exhibition.

On view through December 11, 2022, Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints presents a rare opportunity to see this vast collection and explore the mystical world of Japanese folklore and legend.

Fast Facts

Dates: Friday, September 30 – Sunday, December 11, 2022
Admission: Free for Asia Society Members; $5 Students and Seniors (with ID); $8 Nonmembers
Hours: Wednesday–Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints is organized by Scripps College in Claremont, California, with additional works organized by Asia Society Texas for the Houston presentation. Exhibitions and their related programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher. Major support comes from The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Generous funding also provided by The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Wortham Foundation, Inc., Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. and Oscar L. Tang, and Ann Wales. United Airlines is our official airline partner. Funding is also provided through contributions from the Exhibitions Patron Circle, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional visual art to Asia Society Texas.

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

Credits

Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints is organized by Scripps College in Claremont, California, with additional works organized by Asia Society Texas for the Houston presentation. Exhibitions and their related programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher. Major support comes from The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Generous funding also provided by The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Wortham Foundation, Inc., Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. and Oscar L. Tang, and Ann Wales. United Airlines is our official airline partner. The Japan Series at Asia Society Texas is presented by Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas). Funding is also provided through contributions from the Exhibitions Patron Circle, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional visual art to Asia Society Texas.

Presenting Sponsors

Nancy C. Allen
Leslie and Brad Bucher
Chinhui Juhn and Edward Allen

Official Airline Sponsor