ROM Exhibition Explores Japanese Concept of Tactile Experience Through Art and Design

The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is presenting 'Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art,' an exhibition examining the Japanese concept of shokkan, which refers to the mental impression of touch. Organized by associate curator Akiko Takesue, the show runs from April 4 through September and features approximately 80 Japanese artworks and objects. While most original pieces cannot be handled due to their fragility, the exhibition includes six interactive stations where visitors can touch replicas of items like a samurai sword handle and painted scrolls. The exhibition defines shokkan as a psychological experience shaped by sensory inputs, memories, and language, distinct from purely physical touch (shokkaku). Historical and contemporary works are juxtaposed to demonstrate the concept's relevance across time, including a 1640 room divider paired with a 2021 folding screen by Kosuke Ikeda, and a 1929 kimono displayed alongside a pleated dress by Issey Miyake. The exhibition highlights ceramics, such as a mid-1800s stoneware tea bowl by Takahashi Dōhachi III and an Edo-period bowl by Nonomura Ninsei showing patina from use, alongside netsuke carvings and woodblock prints like Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's 'Looking Painful.' Takesue notes that shokkan applies to objects from any culture, citing examples like Canon cameras designed for specific tactile grips. The exhibition was inspired by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne's detailed notes on handling his Japanese ceramic collection, emphasizing personal engagement with objects.