Constantine Vaporis, professor of history and director of the Asian studies program, will participate in a panel disccusion at the Freer Gallery on Saturday, May 5 as part of the “articulations” series. The purpose of the series is to “broaden… perspectives on art and culture through conversations from multiple viewpoints.”
The topic of conversation will be “Visual Culture and Social Upheaval: Imaging Change in Late Edo Period Japan.” The panelists will explore the intersection of pop culture and spiritual concerns in late Edo society with leading scholars. Attendees will discover the reasons behind the acclaim for Kano Kazunobu’s phantasmagoric paintings of Buddha’s legendary disciples and Katsushika Hokusai’s famous print series of Mount Fuji, and learn how the popularity of these iconic images endures in contemporary Japan.
In addition to Vaporis, the panel includes:
- James C. Dobbins, Fairchild Professor of Religion at Oberlin College
- Patricia Graham, independent art historian
- Freer|Sackler curators James Ulak and Ann Yonemura
The event will take place on May 5 at 2 p.m. in the gallery’s Meyer auditorium.
