Emily Allchurch, a Jersey-born artist known for her intricate digital collages, is celebrating a major milestone as her complete series Tokyo Story has been acquired by the British Museum for its permanent collection.
The 12-print series, which reimagines historical Japanese scenes through layered photography, pays tribute to 19th-century artist Utagawa Hiroshige and his renowned woodblock print series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.
Two prints from Tokyo Story will be exhibited between 1 May and 7 September—one featured in the Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road exhibition and the other in the museum’s Japanese gallery.
Allchurch expressed her excitement over the acquisition, calling it a “thrilling and very special moment” in her 25-year career.
She noted that the British Museum had shown interest in the series since it launched in 2011, and the formal acquisition came as a welcome surprise.
Allchurch’s digital collages often reinterpret classic artworks, infusing them with modern-day elements captured through photography.
Reflecting on Hiroshige’s original prints, she said she admired how they captured everyday life in Edo-era Japan, rather than focusing solely on famous landmarks.
“That relates to me as an artist because I’m always interested in going beyond the tourist trail and seeing how people really live,” she explained.
Originally from Jersey, Allchurch attributes her early passion for art to a desire to explore beyond the island and credits the support of local educators and government grants for making her artistic journey possible.
She paid special tribute to Pat Miller and Angela Crowcroft of Jersey College for Girls, who encouraged her to believe in a career as a professional artist.
In addition to the British Museum exhibition, five pieces from Tokyo Story will be shown in Jersey as part of the Big in Japan exhibition opening 16 May at Private & Public Gallery.
The show will also feature works by leading contemporary artists such as Takashi Murakami and Damien Hirst, further highlighting the global resonance of Japanese influence in modern art.
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