8 / AMAM.OBERLIN.EDU ON VIEW / RIPIN GALLERY / JAN 31–AUG 10 TRICKSTER SPIRITS: DEMONS, FOXES, AND TENGU IN JAPANESE FOLKLORE The enigmatic figures of demons, foxes, and tengu are three unique facets of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, each embodying both menace andmystique. Demons, or oni, are fearsome creatures representing chaos andmalevolence; their formidable appearance and chilling stories about them invoke awe and dread. In contrast, the fox, or kitsune, is revered for its magical shapeshifting powers and dual nature, often depicted as a benevolent guardian as well as a cunning trickster. Meanwhile, the tengu, with their birdlike features and skill with weapons, straddle the line between supernatural menace and revered protectors of the mountains. This exhibition brings together a selection of artworks that explore the legendary history of these beings. The works on view present a rich tapestry of Japanese cultural imagination as expressed in the traditional arts of painting, printmaking, and decorative arts—along with contemporary examples frompopular culture. Classic legends of demons, foxes, and tengu captivate with tales that range from terrifying to touching, from creepy to comical. But on a deeper level, this exhibition decodes the multilayered symbolism of these beings and considers how the folklore surrounding demons, foxes, and tengu may reflect traditional societal anxieties, gender dynamics, andmoral values. These trickster spirits reveal a world where the boundaries between reality andmyth blur. Organized by Mimi Montefiore (OC 2025) and Kevin R. E. Greenwood, Joan L. Danforth Curator of Asian Art. Special thanks to Max Greenwood. Above: Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (Japanese, 1797–1861), Itabana: Ushiwakamaru Fencing with the Tengu at Mt. Kurama, no. 15 from the series The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō, 1852. Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. Mary A. Ainsworth Bequest, 1950.602. Below: Yōshū Chikanobu 楊洲周延 (Japanese, 1838–1912), Taira no Koremochi and the Demon of Mt. Tagakushi, 1848. Color woodblock print. Allen Memorial Art Museum, 1943.299. Right: Utagawa Hiroshige I 初代目歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797–1858), Evening Bell at Ikegami, ca. 1837-38. Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. Mary A. Ainsworth Bequest, 1950.1037.
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