Leiden University Student Repository

Weyers, Morgane (2025)

Curating Cultural Identity: The Construction of Japan’s International Image on A Venetian Stage

Bachelor thesis | Kunstgeschiedenis (BA)

This thesis argues that Japan’s cultural diplomacy significantly influences its presence in the Japanese pavilion at the Venice Biennale, serving as a tool for reflecting on and critiquing the country’s post-war image and identity reconstruction. Through a detailed analysis of Takahiro Iwasaki’s Turned Upside Down, It’s a Forest exhibition, the essay examines how Japan utilizes cultural diplomacy to engage with its historical narrative, integrating both Eastern and Western influences to define its global identity. It discusses the interactions between socio-political factors, art production, and cultural symbolism, demonstrating how Japan uses these platforms to present a nuanced version of its identity. By critically evaluating the works within the Biennale framework, this essay reveals the complex dynamics between art, identity, and international perception, shedding light on the intricate relationship between cultural diplomacy and Japan’s evolving image on the global stage.

cultural diplomacy

Japan studies

Venice Art Biennale

identity

soft power

Author

Weyers, Morgane

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Arts, Media and Society

Supervisors

K. Federova

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en