MARIANNE LAMONACA
Assistant Director for Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs
The Wolfsonian-FIU
"Tokyo: The Imperial Capital"
At the Wolfsonian, November 21, 2003–May 2, 2004

At 11:58 a.m. on September 1, 1923, an earthquake struck Tokyo and eastern Japan with devastating force. A vigorous rebuilding campaign restored the city and transformed it into the imperial capital, despite the rigors of economic depression both locally and abroad. One of the woodblock print artists who captured the drama of its rebirth was Koizumi Kishio (1893–1945), who created One Hundred Pictures of Great Tokyo in the Sh?wa Era (Sh?wa Dai Tokyo Hyakuzue), from 1928 to 1940. The Wolfsonian's portfolio of Koizumi's prints sets the stage for an exhibition depicting the transformation of a key Asian city as it embraced modernity, maintained traditions, and became the site of ultimately disastrous political policies. The images produced by Koizumi are a pantheon of impressive views—from modern facilities such as Haneda airport to nostalgic renderings of revered ancient temples.

Ms. Lamonaca oversees the exhibition and curatorial program of The Wolfsonian-FIU. She organized the exhibitions "Print, Power, and Persuasion: Graphic Design in Germany, 1890-1945 (with Dr. Jeremy Aynsley), "Public Works," "Pioneers of Modern Graphic Design," "'Wish You Were Here!': A Miami Centennial Celebration," "Culinary Culture: A Modern Perspective on Food," and "Modern Dutch Graphics." She is currently at work on several upcoming exhibitions, including "From Emperors to Hoi Polloi: Portraits of an Era, 1851-1945 (November 2002), "In Pursuit of Pleasure: The Hotel in America, 1880-1940 (Fall 2004)," and "The Body Politic." Ms. Lamonaca's publications include: "A 'Return to Order': Issues of the Classical and the Vernacular in Italian Inter-War Design" in Designing Modernity: The Arts of Reform and Persuasion, 1885-1945 (Thames & Hudson, 1995); "Tradition As Transformation: Gio Ponti's Program for the Modern Italian Home, 1928-1933," Studies in the Decorative Arts (Bard Graduate Center, New York Fall-Winter 1997-1998); and, "Josef Frank and Gio Ponti: Reflections on the 'House' and the 'Garden,' A View from Italy" in Josef Frank, Architect and Designer: An Alternative Vision of the Modern Home (Bard Graduate Center, 1996).