Young Man Riding a Giant Tortoise (parody of Urashima Taro) c. 1767

Editor: Here we have Suzuki Harunobu's woodblock print from around 1767, "Young Man Riding a Giant Tortoise (parody of Urashima Taro)." It strikes me as both playful and dreamlike; a strange reimagining of a familiar subject. What’s your interpretation of it? Curator: Well, the figure and tortoise immediately trigger a dialogue with the folktale of Urashima Taro, who journeyed to an underwater kingdom on a turtle’s back. But Harunobu isn’t simply retelling a story. How does it feel to see him replaced by this particular figure? Editor: He looks… contemporary? Not how I’d imagine a traditional hero. It makes me think about how stories change with each generation. Curator: Exactly. It is a commentary on cultural memory itself. By inserting this youthful figure into a well-known narrative, Harunobu uses parody to remind us of the ways that images, stories and symbols can be repurposed, revitalized and how new meanings accumulate across time. This piece isn't just about the story, it's about its ongoing life in the cultural imagination. Editor: So it's not just about the surface-level image, but the deeper layers of meaning inherited over time. Curator: Precisely. The symbols resonate with past stories, and future interpretations of the past stories; and the present! It's cultural memory in visual form. Editor: This has made me appreciate the rich ways stories and art interact, constantly building upon what came before. Thanks for sharing your insights. Curator: My pleasure! Art helps us recognize those layers of cultural context.