Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection

19 April to 25 August 2024
Daily, 10am–7pm | Fridays, 10am–9pm
$6 for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents; $16 for Foreigners

Why and how do we give gifts? The act of gifting is deeply ingrained and takes many forms across histories and cultures. In Japan, the practice of formally presenting gifts with silk covers called fukusa began in the Edo period (1603–1868). These covers were draped or folded over gifts for a variety of occasions, from seasonal festivities to important personal events, and are some of the finest examples of Japanese textile artistry.

Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection celebrates a major gift of Japanese art from the renowned collector Chris Hall. With over 80 fukusa, kimonos, and related textiles displayed, the exhibition explores craft; trade and exchange between Japan, China, and the West; and the act of gifting across cultures, as seen through a presentation of Peranakan textiles from the National Collection. Visitors are invited to draw connections between gift customs of the past and present through an interactive digital programme, and to participate in hands-on workshops, performances, and tours.