KIN 金: Gold in Japanese Arts at MegaMuseo Aosta

The MegaMuseo in Aosta, Italy, is hosting the exhibition 'KIN 金 – L’oro nelle arti giapponesi' until June 14, 2026, curated by yamatologist Roberta Vergagni and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Milan. The show features over 90 works spanning five centuries, exploring gold's role in Japanese art as precious material, color, and sacred light. Techniques include kinpaku (gold leaf), kirigane (cut metal), kinran (gold brocade), kintsugi (gold repair), and maki-e (lacquer with metal powder). The exhibition is divided into three sections: gold in light and color, modern and contemporary prints including works by Takashi Murakami, and a section dedicated to calligrapher Kazuko Hiraoka and kintsugi master Aiko Zushi. The MegaMuseo itself is Europe's largest covered archaeological site at 12,000 m², discovered in 1969, with over 2,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of local history. The exhibition also draws parallels between gold's significance in Japan and the West, from ancient Egypt to Dante's Paradiso.