Poems Made to Wear: Traditional Colors in East Asia

October 15, 2024 – August 16, 2025

Colors have many symbolic meanings in East Asian fashion. This exhibit features clothing from China and Japan organized by the five basic colors of black, red, green-blue, white, and yellow. These colors are traditionally associated with the elements of water, fire, wood, metal, and earth, respectively. Originating in the mythical past, color symbolism was popularized throughout East Asia by the spread of religious and philosophical ideas. Just as the elements were thought to combine into more complex materials, colors could be combined into complex poetic expressions. Visitors can explore these connections between color, nature, and fashion in this student-curated exhibit.