The Mysterious Screen: A Lost Piece of Osaka Discovered!

The Mysterious Screen: A Lost Piece of Osaka Discovered!

A fascinating look into the past comes from Styria, where a valuable screen from Japan was discovered. This historical work of art, which has served as a wall decoration in Eggenberg Castle for approximately 250 years, shows the city of Osaka in a unique perspective before the catastrophe of 1614/1615. After a devastating fire, Osaka, once an economic center of Japan, was completely rebuilt. In a research project, scientists from the Joanneum Universal Museum and the universities in Cologne and Osaka have discovered that this screen is still one of the few known depictions of the city from that time. Marko Mele, scientific director of the Universal Museum, described the discovery as significant and recalled that similar works of art have been lost, while this screen has miraculously survived in Europe, such as orf.at reported.

Art and dialogue at the world exhibition

The screen will now become the scene of cultural encounters: At the upcoming World Exhibition in Osaka in 2025, Styria will present two unique works inspired by Styrian artists. The installation "Pixel Paravent. Time travels in Clouds" by studio asynchrome invites visitors to explore the stories behind the representations in an interactive way. Artist Michael Schitnig emphasizes that the use of playful elements allows people to engage with Osaka's history. In addition, Tom Lohner's work “Okurimono”, which depicts current sights in Styria, is presented as a modern business card for the region. These two works are intended to promote a transcultural dialogue in order to deepen the relations between Styria and Japan, as shown on the website of the Joanneum Universal Museum is explained.

The research also provided exciting historical insights. The screen is not only art, but also a document of a crucial period in Japanese history, when Osaka flourished under the Toyotomi rulers and became a cultural center. However, after a period of war, the city was completely destroyed in the famous Summer Battle of Osaka in 1615. The survival skill of this screen is therefore particularly valuable as it is considered one of the few remaining evidence of this “Golden Age of Japan”, according to the experts. In the coming months, the screen will be on display at the Folklore Museum in Graz before heading to Osaka on June 19th.