From ancient times, Japanese have inscribed their feelings in beautiful landscapes expressed in waka poems. By linking emotions to specific places,
it was possible to share the feelings in waka with others with no knowledge of the actual landscapes. That rhetorical form became known as utamakura, “poetry pillow words”. These “lyrical pillows” added depth to paintings and crafts. Today, however, those waka are no longer common knowledge, making it difficult to share the feelings conveyed by the utamakura. This exhibition is an experiment in attempting to reawaken and share these feelings through a diverse group of works of art.