Junko Narita
Junko Narita: Doll of the Heavenly World
December 1st - December 10th, 2023
Exhibition
Exhibition view
Junko Narita creates fantastical dolls that look like the protagonists of stories from Chinese and Japanese mythology descending from the sky.
These gorgeous and elegant dolls are made from antique fabrics such as crepe, satin, Ming brocade, brocade and embroidery that were once worn by princesses 300 years ago, and are adorned with jewelry made of gold and silver, coral, jade and crystal.
Junko Narita was born in Kyoto and learned Japanese dance from an early age. After getting married, she lived in the UK for several years.
Perhaps that is why her dolls are beautiful, and dressed in mysterious, beautiful costumes that make them seem as if they came from an unknown land.
This time, 13 statues will be coming to Ippodo, centered around a boy riding a white dragon.
We wish you good fortune and hope you feel the aura of happiness from these prodigies who seem likely to lead us to a peaceful world.
Keiko Aono
Junko Narita
Junko Narita
1982 Graduated from the Japan Creative Doll Academy
1984 Exhibited at the Gunen Art Association Exhibition and won the Gunen Award (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)
1990 Jewelry store display
2003 Winner of the Kateigaho Grand Prize Exhibition Appeared on TV Tokyo's Ladies' Hall
2006 Solo exhibition "Junko Narita Doll Exhibition" (Ginza Ippodo, Tokyo)
2007 Received the NHK Publishing Association Award at the "Hokyoji Temple Doll Exhibition" (Doll Temple Hokyoji Temple, Kyoto)
2009 Solo exhibition "Junko Narita Doll Exhibition: Tales of the Sky" (Ginza Ippodo, Tokyo)
Featured in the quarterly Ginka magazine "The World of Junko Narita Dolls"
2010 Special Exhibition: Junko Narita Doll Exhibition "Nene Mugen" (Kodaiji Temple, Kyoto)
2012 SOFA CHICAGO (Ippodo New York, USA)
2013 Selected as the Minister's Special Prize Winner for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Online Election Video Contest
Featured in Waraku Mook's "Japanese Crafts Magazine Art Museum"
"The 2nd Kanazawa International Craft Triennale: Regional Crafts" 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
2014 "'Taiwan-Japan Contemporary Craft & Design in Flux'" National Taiwan Crafts Research Institute (Taiwan)
2017 Selected for the 3rd Kanazawa World Triennale International Craft Competition
2018 Solo Exhibition "Junko Narita Doll Exhibition" (Kenninji Temple, Kyoto)
Born in Kyoto, currently living in Yokohama.