The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm ready to reopen with a world unique exhibition about Japanese textiles

The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities is currently closed due to Covid-19, but behind the scenes the finishing touches of the new exhibition Boro -  The Art of Necessity are being completed, an exhibition about textiles, fashion and history. For the first time in Europe, this world unique collection of Japanese boro objects will be on view at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm as soon as the museum can reopen. The exhibition also features Swedish artists who have created their own interpretation of boro through fashion, poetry and music.

Boro is a Japanese term referring to objects that have been used, broken, or worn to tatters, then and then extensively repaired and used beyond their expected life cycle. The word refers to the clothes and textiles created through meticulous patching and mending in northern Japan. For a long time boro was considered a shameful reminder of poorer times in Japan. A century later, everything has changed, and boro objects are now copied by luxury fashion brands and showcased as art in international art galleries.

As the first museum in Europe, the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities will be showing a world unique collection of boro objects loaned from the Amuse Museum in Tokyo. The collection has previously been on view in New York, Beijing and Sydney and is now in Stockholm at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. The museum is currently closed but the exhibition is ready to be presented as soon as the museum can reopen.

Boro objects tells us about the art of survival but also about human creativity and the constant need to create beauty. By showing this fantastic collection, we want to highlight a unique textile tradition and at the same time create a space for reflection and conversation about contemporary issues of textiles, sustainability and fashion, says Ann Follin, Director General of the National Museums of World Culture in Sweden.

The exhibition also features Swedish artists that have been invited to create their own interpretation of boro. Newly produced works by fashion brand Rave Review and poet Burcu Sahin will be on view, as well as music by Miriam Berhan, Nadine Byrne, Tanya Byrne and Marlena Salonen. The Swedish-Japanese artist Takao Momiyama’s contemporary boro objects will also be shown. Among the 100 boro objects, a selection of patched and mended clothes from Swedish museum collections will also be displayed. The exhibition is designed by acclaimed Stockholm based design and architecture studio TAF. 

Boro - The Art of Necessity opens in 2021 and will be on view until 15 August 2021 at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden. The museum is currently closed due to Covid-19, but the exhibition is ready to be shown as soon as the museum can reopen. 

For more information contact:
Sandra Rathsman, Communications Manager
010-456 12 87
sandra.rathsman@varldskulturmuseerna.se