A Hundred Nightly Spectres. Ghouls, Ghosts and Demons in Japanese and Western Art is currently on view at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Kraków. The exhibition explores the phenomenon of yōkai—Japanese demons and spirits—by placing them alongside Slavic beliefs and Western concepts, revealing shared fears that transcend cultural boundaries.

Divided into four thematic sections, the exhibition features over 70 Japanese woodblock prints from the Feliks Jasieński collection, complemented by works of Polish and Western art from the 18th to the 21st century. Featured artists include Francisco Goya, Odilon Redon, Stanisław Wyspiański, Zofia Stryjeńska, and contemporary Polish artists such as Natalia Buchta Stochel, Krzysztof Gil, and Jakub Julian Ziółkowski.

A notable highlight is a sketchbook page by Andrzej Wróblewski showing a lantern above the grave of Oiwa—an iconic figure from Japanese folklore. Her tale of betrayal, tragic death, and return as a vengeful ghost is one of Japan’s most famous yūrei legends, embodying deeply rooted fears and a desire for justice.

Exhibition on view from June 1 to August 31, 2025
Curator: Dr hab. Anna Król, prof. ASP
Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology
ul. Marii Konopnickiej 26, Kraków
https://manggha.pl/wystawa/sto-nocnych-zjaw