[Himeji City] Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology
Collaboration Commemorative Event with Himeji City Museum of Art “Undercoat”
Himeji City Press Release: September 22, 2025 Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology – Himeji City Museum of Art Collaboration Commemorative Event “Undercoat”
Photography Exhibition by Polish Contemporary Artist Bovnik Image
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collaboration is the holding of “Undercoat,” an exhibition of photographs by contemporary artist Bovnik. This exhibition will feature the “Reverse” series, a series of photographs of clothing turned inside out to reveal seams and linings. By photographing the reverse side of clothing, Bovnik questions the hidden histories and personal stories inherent in clothing, the nature of photographic representation, and the role of institutions in fixing these in social memory, attempting to present the stories of clothing, which have traditionally been confined to the realms of fashion and craft, in a new context. In “Reverse,” Bovnik photographs a variety of garments inside out, from the military uniform worn by Józef Piłsudski, a key figure in the restoration of Polish independence, to the costumes of female shamans from the Yenisei region of Siberia. While detached from the bodies of those who once wore them, the inverted garments speak to viewers through the medium of photography about the untold histories woven by their wearers. Artist introduction
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/73910/344/73910-344-747ea49520f41010e8e93f71031e1470-1659×1659.jpg Bownik Contemporary artist born in Poland in 1977. Lecturer at the State Film University in Lodz. She studied philosophy at Marie Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin and photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan. Using an 8x10mm camera, she carefully deconstructs and reconstructs her subjects into their constituent parts, examining the artificiality of the medium and exploring the materiality and socio-historical background of traditional costumes. Bownik’s works are held in the collections of the National Museum in Poznan, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Wroclaw, the Krakow Museum of
Photography, the Huis Marseille (Amsterdam), the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, the National Library in Warsaw, and the ING Collection (Amsterdam), among others. Events during the exhibition period Poland x Japan Artist Talk Session Speakers: Mr. Bovnik (artist featured in this exhibition), Mr. Tomohiro Higashikage (contemporary artist), Ms. Naoko Yoshimoto (contemporary artist) Date and Time: Saturday, October 4th, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Location: Himeji City Museum of Art, Special Exhibition Room Participation fee: Free Capacity: 50 people (first come, first served) Workshop: PRIVATE REVERSE Bovnik’s “Reverse” series, in which he photographs garments inside out, invites viewers to imagine the history, personal memories, and other anecdotes usually untold about the garments. In this workshop, led by the artist herself, participants are invited to bring their own clothing and photograph their own “reverse” garments. Instructor: Mr. Bovnik (artist featured in this exhibition) Date and Time: Sunday, October 5th, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Registration begins at 10:00 AM) Location: Himeji City Museum of Art, 2nd floor auditorium Participation fee: Free Capacity: 15 people What to bring: One piece of your own clothing (jacket, sweater, or other top) How to apply: Apply to Himeji City Museum of Art by email (first-come, first-served, application closes when capacity is reached) Email to: gakugei@city.himeji.hyogo.jp Please include the event name, your name, and phone number in your email. Applications for multiple people per email are limited to family members. If you wish to participate with multiple people, please also indicate the number of participants. Exhibition
Information Dates: Saturday, October 4th, 2025 (Reiwa 7) to Monday, October 13th (National Holiday) On the first day, October 4th, an opening ceremony will be held at 10:00 AM. No reservations are required and anyone is welcome to attend. Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed: Monday, October 6th Venue: Himeji City Museum of Art, Special Exhibition Room Admission fee: Free Organized by: Japanese Museum of Art and Technology Manggha, Himeji City Museum of Art