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The big wave: MAK exhibition on the water crisis until September 7th!
Visit the MAK exhibition “Water Pressure” until September 7, 2025 and experience Hokusai’s “The Great Wave”. Find out about the global water crisis.
The big wave: MAK exhibition on the water crisis until September 7th!
The unique color woodcut “Under the Wave at Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai, known as The Great Wave, shows this MAC a touching examination of the global water crisis. The exhibition WATER PRESSURE, which opened on May 21, 2025, runs until September 7, 2025 and is part of a collaboration between the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg and Jane Withers Studio, London. Hokusai's work is part of the famous series "36 Views of Mount Fuji" and is presented in the entrance area of the MAK under conservation conditions.
The installation is not only an artistic performance, but also contributes to the thematic discussion of the challenges that water scarcity poses to many societies around the world. The exhibition addresses the importance of water, which, similar to traditional Japanese art, reflects the daily realities of life.
Special events and workshops
The finissage of the exhibition will take place on September 7, 2025 and offers visitors the opportunity to take part in guided tours and a workshop. The tours start at 11 a.m. and do not require registration. The AQUATOR water knowledge workshop from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., however, requires prior registration and deals with the topics of water and climate in Vienna. A card-based discussion game is also offered, aimed at teenagers and adults.
The exhibition was designed by 51N4E and Philipp Krummel, while the graphic design was carried out by Visual Fields and Theresa Hattinger. Anyone interested can visit the exhibition during its opening hours: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Background on Japanese art
Hokusai's work is known not only for its aesthetic quality, but also reflects Japan's cultural relationship with water. Movements in Japanese art, particularly the Ukiyo-e tradition, have always shown water in various forms. These printing techniques include large lakes, rivers and the sea, and depict people's everyday interactions with water. MURASE Kana, a curator at the Tokyo National Museum, explains the profound importance of water in Japanese art, which has been deeply influenced by geography. Artworks from this period, such as those by Utagawa Hiroshige, use vivid colors and techniques to illustrate the movement and transience of water.
An example of awareness of impermanence in Japanese culture is the term “mono no aware,” which describes a deep understanding of the beauty of the impermanent. This feeling can also be found in the modern discussion of water cycles and reflects the themes of uncertainty and melancholy that are also influenced by earthquakes and tsunamis. In addition to the exhibition at the MAK, these topics can be further explored in museums and in the art scene, for example in Museum of Applied Arts, where different facets of Japanese art deal with water and movement.
For a visit to the MAK exhibition hall, which is located at Stubenring 5 in 1010 Vienna, the regular admission prices are 16.50 euros for adults and 13.50 euros reduced. Young people under 19 have free entry. The organizers invite everyone interested in art and water to experience the exhibition and to actively participate in the events on offer.