Artwork
Noh
Noh is a poster by Kiyoshi Awazu. It dates from 1981 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1981, twelve leading Japanese graphic designers contributed to a poster series organized by critic Masaru Katsumi.
About this work
Overview
In 1981, twelve leading Japanese graphic designers contributed to a poster series organized by critic Masaru Katsumi. The series marked a program of lectures, workshops, and performances dedicated to traditional Japanese performing arts. These events formed part of the UCLA Asian Performing Arts Institute, where a delegation of Japanese artists toured U.S. venues over five weeks.
Subject & Meaning
The poster centers on Noh, a classical Japanese dramatic form that emerged in the 14th century. Characterized by stylized movement, chant, and masked performers, Noh remains a living tradition. This design served as visual documentation of the art’s presentation to American audiences, linking historical practice with contemporary cultural exchange.
Technique & Style
Each designer interpreted the assigned art form through individual graphic languages, reflecting diverse approaches to typography, imagery, and composition. The series exemplifies late 20th-century Japanese graphic design, balancing modernist clarity with references to traditional aesthetics. Materials and printing methods of the period shaped the final appearance.
History & Provenance
Commissioned for a specific academic and performance initiative, the poster was produced in limited quantities for distribution at UCLA and affiliated venues. As part of a complete set, it circulated among institutions, collectors, and participants in the 1981 program. Its survival depends on preservation within private and public design archives.
Context
The project responded to growing Western interest in non-Western performance traditions during the 1970s and 1980s. By engaging prominent designers, the organizers aimed to elevate the visibility of Japanese arts beyond conventional ethnographic display. The poster thus functioned as both promotional tool and cultural artifact.
Legacy
The series documents a moment of cross-cultural dialogue through design. It remains a reference point for studies of Japanese graphic art and its role in representing national heritage. Individual posters, including this one, occasionally appear in exhibitions on design history or the globalization of traditional performance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kiyoshi Awazu was a Japanese graphic designer, active in the post-WWII era in the fields of poster design, architecture design, set design, filmmaking, and illustration.
