Erotic art or pornography? A perennial question, to which this show wisely offers no definitive answer. Instead, it delivers a funny and very skilled exploration of Japanese sexual culture through clowning, shadow puppets and live projection. Shunga erotic art – now celebrated as a cultural tradition – was often (though unsuccessfully) suppressed over its long history. Today, it is now largely replaced by the porn industry, though the art form survives in manga and anime, especially hentai. The show explores the contrasts and connections by way of a lively cartoon-like narrative, underpinned by a debatable suggestion that Japan’s falling birthrate is linked to the adoption of Western prudishness and prurience. Expertly done, there’s a little learning here and a lot of fun.

Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Alan Cranston]