“Samurai: Japanese Armor” depicts Japan’s feudal era

By Jack Howorth
Arts Editor

Although repetitive in content, the “Samurai: Japanese Armor” exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art impresses with its culturally immersive display of 12th to 19th century Japanese samurai armor, creating a realistic militaristic atmosphere. Complemented by a dim red light that adds an air of authenticity to the ambience, the exhibit succeeds as an extensive collection of varied samurai armor through the ages.

“Samurai: Japanese Armor,” from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection, is an array of pieces that focuses on showing the evolution of Japanese samurai armor over the course of seven centuries. It features armor, poised in fighting positions, ranging from men on horseback to solo pieces highlighting individual aspects of the armor or specific weapons.
Upon entry to the exhibit, one is greeted by three gigantic horses with three different types of samurai armor riding on their backs, instantly setting the warlike tone of the entire exhibit. Additionally, the majority of the displays imitates a warrior stance, further immersing the viewer in the conflict-ridden lifestyle of feudal Japan.

In Japanese mythology, the color red holds great significance and is often used as the color of samurai armor to represent demon blood. Playing off of these legends, the entire exhibit is doused in a dim red light that not only complements the aesthetics of the armor but also the ferocity of the time period on display.

“Horai Kunichika,” a display of a warrior’s helmet, perfectly embodies the fighting spirit of the 17th century samurai, featuring a growling mouth with large fangs. Despite being a mask made for war, the “Horai Kunichika” is inscribed with patterns of great detail, further portraying the mastery and artistry of the samurai during the era.

Another standout of the exhibit is the condition in which the armor is kept. This can best be seen in the “Nimaitachido tosei gusoka” armor that, despite dating back to the 1400s, is in quality condition, looking well polished yet antique. The care put into the maintenance of each display helps add authenticity to the exhibit as a whole.

The vastness of the exhibit proves one of its major strengths, as the viewer is able to observe multiple pieces of artistry from each era. Despite being one of the largest samurai armor collections in the world, the “Samurai: Japanese Armor” exhibit does not sacrifice quality for quantity, as each of the many displays is intricately designed and presented professionally by LACMA.

However, the exhibit does suffer from a lack of variation. Although showing some prominent distinctions, many of the pieces look very similar. The repetitive nature of the exhibit as a whole, where it is generally limited to armor, helmets and the occasional weapon, limits its impact.

While featuring an incredibly vast and detailed collection of samurai armor over the centuries, the “Samurai: Japanese Armor” from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection suffers from repetitive displays. However, this does not fully hinder the exhibit, as the atmosphere coupled with the quality of the pieces makes it an overall intriguing addition to LACMA.

“Samurai: Japanese Armor” can now be viewed at LACMA. Admission is free for students 17 and under as well as museum members, and $25 for everyone else.