The MAK – Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna presents Powerful Patterns – Meisen Kimonos, an exhibition showcasing approximately 60 Meisen kimonos and haoris from the early 20th century, generously donated by Danish collector Henriette Friis. This exhibition opened 12 March and will run through 24 August 2025. Opening Hours: Tue 10 am–9 pm, Wed–Sun 10 am–6 pm. Monday closed.
Curated by Lara Steinhäußer, MAK Textiles and Carpets Collection, the show explores the bold, modernist-inspired designs of Meisen garments from Japan’s Taishō and Shōwa periods. These “all-over patterned” silk pieces reflect the cultural dialogue between Japan and the West and capture the emergence of the “modern woman” in early 20th-century Japan.
Thanks to technological innovations and the use of synthetic dyes, Meisen kimonos became affordable and expressive garments, merging traditional Japanese aesthetics with European avant-garde styles including Art Deco, Expressionism, and the Wiener Werkstätte. This exhibition highlights their significance as both artistic creations and cultural symbols of modernization and self-expression.
“It is a stunning exhibition” said Peter Bichler, Chair of the Austrian Society for Textile-Art Research (TKF) after a special guided tour and viewing for the TKF.
Location and more information: MAK, Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna