Silvia VESCO

Dr. Silvia VESCO is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she specializes in Japanese art history, particularly Edo-period visual culture, ukiyo-e prints, illustrated books, and the works of Katsushika Hokusai. She is actively involved in research, teaching, and cultural curation, with a strong focus on Italian collections of Japanese art and cross-cultural artistic dialogues between Japan and the West.

Education:

• PhD in History of Indian and East Asian Art, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (1999)
• Master in Art & Archaeology, SOAS, University of London (1995)
• Degree in Oriental Languages and Literatures, University of Venice (1993, with honors)

Her research interests encompass Japanese aesthetics, museum studies, and the global reception of Japanese art. She has led major digitization projects for the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice and contributed to the development of its new museological framework. Her scholarly work reveals a consistent focus on Hokusai, Edo-period print culture, and the philosophical dimensions of Japanese visual forms.

The recent publications highlight a deep engagement with Hokusai’s pedagogical works, the aesthetics of emptiness, and contemporary reflections on nature in post-Fukushima Japan. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges art history, cultural studies, and museum practice.

Scientific Recognition:

• Finalist, Premio Nazionale per la divulgazione scientifica 'Giancarlo Dosi' (2020)
• Japan Foundation Fellowship (1997)
• Postgraduate scholarship from the University of Venice (1994)

She has supervised numerous MA theses, served on PhD committees, and mentored students in Japanese art history. Her research has been supported by grants from the Japan Foundation and institutional collaborations with museums and cultural centers. She is a referee for VQR, Edizioni Ca' Foscari, and international journals, and serves on the scientific committees of several academic and museum publications.

Labs and Teams:

• Scientific Committee, Museum of Oriental Art, Ca' Pesaro, Venice
• Scientific Committee, Edizioni Ca' Foscari
• Coordinator, Scientific Committee for Ca' Foscari Japanese Studies, Arts and Literature
• Member of the editorial board of 'Venezia Arti' and 'Quaderni del Polo museale del Veneto'