In the heart of Osaka, the prestigious Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store – a venue firmly rooted in the history of the Kansai region – has prepared a spectacular art installation by Joanna Hawrot that redefines the boundaries between fashion, art and identity storytelling. Until 24 June 2025, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the extraordinary exhibition ‘Wearable Art – Unseen Threads’, part of the cultural programme accompanying the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The installation, stretched over as many as eight floors of the gallery, is the result of an extremely ambitious collaboration. Drawing inspiration from the work of icons such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Wojciech Sadley and Angelika Markul, Joanna Hawrot combines the Polish tradition of artistic textiles with refined Japanese aesthetics. Her works – full of unique patterns, layers and emotions – are not only an artistic manifesto, but also a deeply personal story about visibility and identity. Alongside Hawrot’s artistic textiles, the installation is complemented by sculptures by Angelika Markul and photographs and video footage by Zuza Krajewska. Together, they form a multidimensional narrative that encourages the viewer to reflect on contemporary forms of artistic expression.
One of the key elements of the exhibition is a project in which the artist invited twelve women – from both Poland and Japan – to bring their personal stories to life. The collaboration was inspired by the traditional jūnihitoe, or ‘twelve layers’, of court dress from the Heian period. This allowed the historical motifs to find a new, contemporary interpretation. Participants in the project included people who do not normally get the chance to shine in the fashion world – elderly, transgender and socially excluded women. Each of the unique creations tells the story of experiences, dreams and daily struggles, highlighting a multi-voiced narrative where the visible meets the invisible. Photographs and video shots from the streets of Osaka, taken by Zuza Krajewska, further accentuate the contrast between the fashion glamour of the exhibition and the authentic life of the city.
The architecture of the exhibition, under the supervision of Ania Witko, deserves equally high praise, as its layout and space planning give the exhibition a unique atmosphere. The eight floors of the prestigious Daimaru Shinsaibashi become an arena for artistic experimentation, where the commercial and cultural tradition of the department store, known for its long-standing tradition of selling kimonos, interacts with the modern expression of Polish female artists. The attention to architectural detail and the unusual juxtaposition of artistic forms create a dialogue between past and present, enriching the experience of each visitor.
Joanna Hawrot’s exhibition also fits into the broader context of the Po!land cultural programme, which was inaugurated during the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka. Entitled ‘Po!land’ (ポ！ランド), the programme aims to transcend cross-cultural boundaries and seek new opportunities for the exchange of ideas, inspired by both the sound of dazzle and Poland’s historical scientific heritage. In this way, Polish traditions intertwine with the Japanese quest for harmony, creating a space open to dialogue, innovation and mutual understanding.
Installation ‘Joanna Hawrot: Wearable Art – Unseen Threads’ until 24 June 2025 at DAIMARU Shinsaibashi in Osaka.
Artist: Joanna Hawrot, Curatorial team: Paweł Pachciarek, Joanna Hawrot, Fabric designs, objects: Joanna Hawrot, Photographs/video: Zuza Krajewska, Sculpture: Angelika Markul, Exhibition architecture: Ania Witko, Content consultation: Marcin Różyc (CMWŁ), Partners: Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Polish Institute in Tokyo, Collaboration: DAIMARU Shinsaibashi
source: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
photos: PAIH
Also read: fashion | designer |Japan | culture | art | whiteMAD on Instagram
