The Surimono Collection consists of 320 Japanese woodcuts from the estate of the well-known collector of East Asian art Marino Lusy (1880–1954). It is housed at the Graphics Collection of Zurich’s Museum of Design. Following the scientific documentation of the collection in 2003, research focuses on establishing the history of the collection. The findings lay the basis for an extensive, international research project.
The Surimono Collection held at the Graphics Collection of Zurich’s Museum of Design consists of 320 elaborately printed Japanese woodcuts, which probably form part of the estate of the well-known collector of East Asian art Marino Lusy (1880–1954). A preliminary study is undertaken in 2003, to record this valuable collection on the TMS database. In a second step, a concept for a comprehensive research project resulting in the publication and presentation of the surimonos is devised. The project includes establishing contacts with possible external partners, reviewing funding opportunities, and submitting a well-conceived funding proposal. Initial research results are written up in a formal working report.
Research is further pursued in a follow-up project and a next step involves documenting the history of the collection. Research results are published in a scholarly article and lay the basis for an extensive, international research project whose outcomes are an exhibition of selected surimonos at Zurich’s Rietberg Museum (2006), an accompanying publication, and a comprehensive exhibition (2008), again at the Rietberg Museum.
Advisory Experts:
Prof Dr John Carpenter
Dr Fumiko Kobayashi
Publications:
Nadin Heé: «Japanische Holzschnittbücher», in Librarium (2003)
Preliminary Project:
Project leader: Myrtha Steiner, Museum für Gestaltung Zurich; Team: Nadin Heé
01.06.2003 - 31.01.2004
Execution:
Project leader: Sigrid Schade, ICS; Katharina Epprecht, Museum Rietberg Zurich; Nadin Heé, Japanologist
Phase 1: 01.07.2004 - 31.12.2004
Phase 2: 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2005
Phase 3: 01.03.2006 - 31.07.2008