Two new exhibits are debuting at the Bowers Museum — with one exploring the impacts of photography and the other showcasing the works of artist Katsushika Hokusai through various mediums.
“The Power of Photography,” curated by Peter Fetterman, includes 73 original prints and is on display now through Jan. 14 at the Santa Ana museum.
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“From the bizarre Boschian fantasies of Melvin Sokolsky to the haunting humanity of Edward Weston’s portraits, from rare interior shots by famed nude photographer Ruth Bernhard to Steve McCurry’s ‘Afghan Girl,’ one of the most recognizable photographs ever taken, this exhibition gathers some of the most unique and heartening photographs from the 20th century,” the exhibit’s description says.
The iconic images are expected to take visitors on a journey exploring how photography impacts the world and shines light on the human experience, according to the museum. The photos are accompanied by Fetterman’s words as well.
And then there’s “Beyond the Great Wave: Works by Hokusai from the British Museum,” an exhibit featuring more than 100 paintings, drawings and woodblock prints, including a preserved early example of “The Great Wave,” by Hokusai. This exhibit runs through Jan. 7.
“These artworks provide insights into his early career, rise to fame, fascination with the natural and supernatural realms, personal life, and his quest for immortality through his art,” an exhibit description says. “Hokusai’s creations stand distinct from the art of his Japanese contemporaries, characterized by an intensely individual, subjective, energized, and sublime style, promising a powerfully emotional and spiritual experience to all who attend.”
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” depicts three boats navigating the sea, with a large wave cresting. It’s considered to be possibly the most famous artwork in Japanese history.
And if that’s the piece you’re most excited to see, you’re not alone. Seán O’Harrow, the new president and CEO of Bowers, said in August that “The Great Wave” was the art piece he’d most like to bring to the museum.
And now it — and the photography exhibit — are the first two opened at Bowers under his leadership.
Calling the piece “one of the most iconic images in the history of art around the world,” O’Harrow on Friday also noted it had a personal connection for him. O’Harrow grew up in Honolulu where he said he was also immersed in Japanese art.
“For me, it makes me feel at home,” he said.
“The Power of Photography,” O’Harrow said, is “profound.’
“It’s one of the few exhibitions that I’ve been to where you can’t pass any one because there’s a reason for everything,” O’Harrow said.
