Peace and Friendship: An SJ60 Picture Book Exhibition from Singapore and Japan
| Date: | 23 May–20 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Opening hours: | 10am to 6pm (Tuesday - Saturday, closed on 27 May and 2 June) |
| Ticketing: | Free admission |
| Venue: | Japan Creative Centre |
About the Exhibition
Celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan, this special exhibition brings together picture book illustrations from both countries curated around the shared themes of peace and friendship. The exhibition explores how picture books portray relationships between individuals, communities, and the environment, offering insights into how societies imagine connection in everyday life.
Often a child’s first encounter with both literature and visual art, picture books provide a powerful entry point into different cultural worlds. They nurture imagination, emotional understanding, and aesthetic sensibility, while transcending language and age.
Curated by the Singapore Book Council and the Chihiro Art Museum, the exhibition builds on a partnership first established during AFCC 2016, when Japan was the Country of Focus. It forms part of the broader celebration of Singapore–Japan ties through the arts and cultural exchange.
Come experience the richness of artistic styles and visual storytelling from both countries, resonating with AFCC 2026’s theme, The Worlds We Make. Featured artists include Chihiro Iwasaki and The Cabin Company from Japan, as well as Kwan Shan Mei and Josef Lee from Singapore.
The exhibition will run from 23 May to 20 June 2026 at the Japan Creative Centre (10am to 6pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays). Complementary programmes include an opening exhibition talk and a children’s workshop by visiting artists from Japan, The Cabin Company.
Supported by Naomi Kojima.
The Worlds We Share through Picture Books: A Special Talk
6 June, Saturday | 3pm – 4pm | Japan Creative Centre | Free Admission
Come listen to those involved in picture book creation, and dive deeper into the exhibition Peace and Friendship: An SJ60 Picture Book Exhibition from Singapore and Japan, currently on display at JCC.
Curator David Liew and artist Priscilla Tey, both from Singapore, as well as curator Michiko Matsukata, who will make a special online appearance from Japan, will talk about picture book production in each country and reflect on how art made for children can carry the weightiest of themes: peace, friendship, and the worlds we want to build.
This event is part of the official celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan (SJ60).
Register for the talk here.
