Japanese art for embassies, consulates and cultural centres abroad

A reception hall abroad speaks for a country before anyone has said a word. For embassies, consulates, the Japan Foundation's offices, Japanese chambers of commerce and cultural institutes, the art on that wall has to show contemporary Japan without leaning on Mount Fuji, cherry blossom or calligraphy.

Why this work suits a mission

• A documented career: Ikki Mitsuhashi (b. 1943) trained at the Nippon Design Center, art-directed for Lufthansa and Kanebo, showed at Tokyo's Pentax Gallery in 1980 and 1982, and has published three photobooks since 1973.
• Universal subjects: lotus, banana flower, coconut and frangipani in quiet arrangements — nothing to explain away, much to talk about.
• Numbered and certified: each print can be recorded properly and lent or rotated between residence, chancery and events.
• Bilingual: titles, stories and certificates in Japanese and English.

Also for Japanese companies abroad

Overseas headquarters of Japanese companies, and Japan-related hotels and restaurants, face the same brief. The embassy example shows a pair of XL sheets; the corporate reception shows a trio.

To plan a hall or a residence, write to our free art consulting with photographs of the space.