While the ongoing Expo 2025 art exhibitions all over Osaka are soaking up plenty of attention, the Kyoto ddd Gallery is quietly presenting one of this summer’s most interesting Expo-adjacent shows. Tracing the evolving identity of World Expositions through graphic design, ‘Modern Expo Posters: A Graphical Journey Through World Expos’ offers a glimpse into the visual language that has defined Expos over the past seven decades.
The exhibition showcases 14 posters from 11 world’s fairs, starting with Expo 1958 in Brussels – the first in the modern Expo era – and culminating with the bold vision of Osaka’s Expo 2025. Also featured are posters from two Specialised Expos in Okinawa and Tsukuba, and the International Garden and Greenery Exposition in Osaka.
More than promotional materials, these posters embody the spirit and themes of their respective Expos, reflecting the aspirations and challenges of each era. Highlighting the diverse visual approaches of acclaimed designers such as Kenya Hara, David Hockney and Yusaku Kamekura, the exhibition invites visitors to explore how Expos have transformed from showcases of objects into platforms for addressing global issues and imagining collective futures.
