MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART

706 Camino Lejo, Museum Hill, 505-476-1200, internationalfolkart.org

Visitations from the dark side

Ghostly beings with ghastly intentions populate an eerie world of visual horrors and dark humor. They are a haunting presence in the exhibit Yokai: Ghosts and Demons of Japan, revealing their role in Japanese culture for more than 400 years. The images of ogres, demons and monsters “interact with the human world and spark common notions of frightful things,” says the exhibit’s introductory text. “Perhaps the most terrifying are those that shed light on the faults of human society.” Grotesque features on a mask distort the face of a woman scorned. Nearby, a red-faced, knifewielding demon ominously asks, “Are there any bad kids here?” The exhibit shows the development of Yokai, from images on ancient woodblocks and scrolls to modern visualizations — toys, games, puppets, works of art, theatrical performances, films and festival floats. To move visitors’ experience from visual to visceral, the exhibit invites them to enter a “ghost house,” but not before being warned that they will experience “jump scares” caused by sudden light and sound distortions and other surprise assaults on the senses. And yes, visitors do scream. The exhibit continues to shock through Aug. 31, 2022.