NYC Gazette

In East Asian cultures, poetry, calligraphy, and painting are collectively known as the "Three Perfections." An exhibition showcasing these art forms is currently presenting over 160 rare works from Japan, spanning nearly a millennium. The exhibition includes items such as folding screens with poems brushed on intricately decorated papers, dynamic calligraphy by Zen monks from medieval Kyoto, and hanging scrolls featuring paintings and inscriptions related to Chinese and Japanese literary classics. Also featured are ceramics used in tea gatherings and other artifacts.

The majority of the pieces come from the Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, which has over 250 examples of Japanese painting and calligraphy. Mary and Cheney Cowles's collection is considered one of the most comprehensive assemblages of Japanese art outside Japan and many works from this collection have been donated or promised to The Met.

"The exhibition is made possible by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund." The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue that examines the relationship between poetry, calligraphy, and painting in Japanese art through more than 100 works, including hanging scrolls, folding screens, handscrolls, and albums.