The Museum of Oriental Art in Venice is presenting "MUSHI 虫. Dragonflies and Other Insects in the Painting of Stéphane Dubé," a solo exhibition featuring twenty-seven gouache works on paper. Curated by Marta Boscolo Marchi, Sachiko Natsume, and Giulia Passante, the show is organized into three thematic sections focusing on dragonflies, moths, and dead snakes. These contemporary works are displayed in dialogue with traditional Japanese artifacts from the museum's permanent collection, such as netsuke and military items, highlighting the symbolic significance of these creatures in Eastern culture.
This exhibition matters because it bridges contemporary Western artistic practice with historical Japanese iconography and philosophy. By exploring the radical 'mushi' (虫), which links insects and snakes in the Japanese language, Dubé’s work examines themes of tenacity, rebirth, and the spiritual perception of the natural world. The collaboration between a national museum and a private gallery, supplemented by cultural events like sake tastings, demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach to integrating modern aesthetics with ancient heritage.