London is the best place for Japanese art in Europe, according to Monika Hinkel, Japanese art specialist, who will offer courses from September at the wonderful Morley College, Waterloo. Courses will include: Japanese painting (autumn term), Japanese Ceramics (spring term), Nanban Art (summer term) and Major themes in Japanese Art (summer term).
What do you do, and why?
Monika Hinkel
I am a research associate of the Japan Research Centre at SOAS/ University of London and work as an independent lecturer for Japanese art at a variety of institutions like SOAS, Birkbeck, V&A and Morley College. I’m a specialist in Japanese woodblock prints and wrote my PhD thesis on the print artist Toyohara Kunichika.
I studied Japanese Studies, Oriental Art History and Political Science at Bonn University and was a curator for Japanese Art at the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne.
What’s awesome about what you do?
I’m working within the field that has fascinated me the most about Japan right from the start, its culture and particular its art history. Since I moved to London 10 years ago, I have been teaching Japanese art at various institutions. I thoroughly enjoy the experience to be able to share my interest in Japanese art with a diversity of students.
What are your top tips for people who are interested in your niche?
In Europe London is the best place for Japanese art. All the different museums, galleries, auction houses, art fairs and colleges that are based here, offer an amazing choice to learn about and experience Japanese art. For example SOAS, the Japan Society, the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and Japan Foundation offer a great array of art-related talks and exhibitions.
What’s your favourite Japanese thing in London?
The Toshiba Gallery at the V&A
I love the The Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries at the British Museum, the Toshiba Gallery at the V&A and the Japanese-style roof garden at SOAS.
Kiraku and Tonkotsu are my favourite Japanese restaurants.
The Japan Matsuri is always a fun event.
Any important upcoming events or dates to remember?
Learn more about Japanese Art!
As part of the Summer School at Morley College I will give a one-day course on 17 July on ‘Seasonal Imagery in Japanese Art’.
From September 2014 I will offer courses on Japanese painting (autumn term), Japanese Ceramics (spring term), Nanban Art (summer term) and Major themes in Japanese Art (summer term) at Morley College.
Please check the Morley College website for further information.