ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Hikaru Fujii's 'Southern Barbarian Screens' Examines Colonial Narratives Through 16th-Century Japanese Art

exhibition · 2026-04-24

ArtReview's Art Lovers Movie Club showcases Hikaru Fujii's 2017 film 'Southern Barbarian Screens,' which documents exhibition technician Peter Golightly as he sets up replica images of Japanese folding screens crafted by Kano Domi in the late 1500s. These screens, referred to as Nanban byōbu or 'southern barbarian screens,' illustrate the arrival of the first Europeans in Japan in 1543, featuring a Portuguese ship docking in Nagasaki and a city procession with gold, cages, and enslaved individuals. The film, which unfolds in real time, challenges viewers to grapple with their impatience and critically assess historical narratives. Tyler Coburn, in the Winter 2025 edition of ArtReview Asia, highlights the final scene where Golightly rushes towards the camera, urging critical engagement. The screening took place from 15 January to 16 February 2026, and Fujii's solo exhibition at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in London will display 'Southern Barbarian Screens' from 5 March to 18 May 2026. Based in Tokyo, Fujii's work spans installation, film, and workshops, examining the intersections of art, history, and society, particularly regarding Asia-Europe relations and structural violence.

Key facts

  • Hikaru Fujii's 2017 video 'Southern Barbarian Screens' was screened by Art Lovers Movie Club from 15 January to 16 February 2026.
  • The video features Peter Golightly as an exhibition technician installing replica photographs of Kano Domi's late-16th-century Japanese folding screens.
  • The screens, Nanban byōbu, depict the first Europeans arriving in Japan in 1543, including a Portuguese trading vessel in Nagasaki.
  • Tyler Coburn wrote about the work in the Winter 2025 issue of ArtReview Asia.
  • Fujii's solo exhibition at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in London runs from 5 March to 18 May 2026.
  • Fujii is based in Tokyo and works across installation, film, and workshops.
  • The film is slow, silent, and unfolds in real time.
  • Fujii's practice examines historical moments, social issues, and Asia-Europe relations.

Entities

Artists

  • Hikaru Fujii
  • Kano Domi
  • Peter Golightly
  • Tyler Coburn

Institutions

  • ArtReview
  • Art Lovers Movie Club
  • Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
  • ArtReview Asia

Locations

  • Tokyo
  • Japan
  • Nagasaki
  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources