Huang Goodman · Art Forgotten

Art Forgotten

Art from public museum collections. A mismatched real Japanese law, and some other factoids.

Every object, image and description comes from the museum's own catalogue record, and every object links to its original. Japanese records are machine-translated into English; the museum's Japanese is kept beside the translation because it is the authoritative form. Each law carries its official number and links to e-Gov 法令検索, the Japanese government's statute database.

提帯 白地桜牡丹鼓模様
{提帯 白地桜牡丹鼓模様 · アンリー夫人寄贈 · 江戸時代・19世紀 / Edo period, 19th century · Japan Search · 国立国会図書館}
Obi: White cherry blossoms and peonies pattern Explanation: Obi: This is a type of wide belt worn around the waist in traditional Japanese clothing. White cherry blossoms and peonies: These are two popular flower motifs in Japanese art and culture. Cherry blossoms represent the transience of life, while peonies symbolize prosperity and wealth. Pattern: This refers to the design or decoration on the obi. In this case, it features white cherry blossoms and peonies.

The obi, used to fasten a waist-wrapping, is mainly made of silk. Its width is typically narrower, around 8 to 10 centimeters. Due to the thick core at both ends, when fastened at the back, the obi puffs out on the sides like arms. Therefore, when wrapped around the waist through the sleeves of the obi, it assumes a spread-out, feather-like appearance.

腰巻姿に使われる提帯は主として錦で作られ帯の幅は通常より狭く8~10㎝あまりである。その両端に腕の太さくらいの芯が入るため、背中で結ぶと左右にピンと腕のようにのびる。そこに腰巻の両袖を通して腰に巻くため、まるで羽根を広げたような姿となる。

View the original at Japan Search →
The law
文化芸術基本法
Basic Act on Culture and the Arts
平成十三年法律第百四十八号 · Act No. 148 of 2001

Unusually for a Japanese statute it opens with a preamble, which states that finding joy in creating culture and living among it is an unchanging wish of people, and that culture contributes to world peace. Article 2 then sets the principles: the autonomy of those who make culture must be fully respected, and their creativity, standing and capacity considered.

The cool part. Article 2, paragraph 3 is the line worth reading twice. It says that creating and receiving culture is a right people are born with, and requires an environment in which citizens can appreciate, participate and create regardless of age, disability, economic situation, or the area they live in. Four barriers named in statute, one of which is your postcode. It puts the arts in the same grammatical register as infrastructure. Not a subsidy argued for each year, a standing obligation.

Verify at e-Gov 法令検索 →

Use it A motif small enough to blind-deboss, which is where restraint actually shows.

Description source: museum curator text, translated — not generated