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| Warriors of Art: A Guide to Contemporary Japanese Artists | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 4 reviews)
Sales Rank: 172341
Category: Book
Author: Yumi Yamaguchi
Publisher: Kodansha International
Studio: Kodansha International
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
Label: Kodansha International
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 4770030312
Dewey Decimal Number: 709.22
EAN: 9784770030313
ASIN: 4770030312
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Recently the West has been inundated by a steady flow of images from manga, anime, and the video games that are a key part of todays Japanese visual culture. At the same time, Japanese contemporary artists are gaining a higher profile overseas: many Westerners are already familiar with Takashi Murakamis brightly colored, cartoonlike characters, or with Junko Mizunos grotes-cute Lolita-style girls. Perhaps less familiar are the absurd fighting machines of Kenji Yanobe, the many disguises of Tomoko Sawada, or the grotesque fairytale landscapes of Tomoko Konoike. Warriors of Art features the work of forty of the latest and most relevant contemporary Japanese artists, from painters and sculptors, to photographers and performance artists, with lavish full-color spreads of their key works. Author Yumi Yamaguchi offers an insightful introduction to the main themes of each artist, and builds up a fascinating portrait of the society that has given birth to them: a Japan that still bears the scars of atomic destruction, a Japan with a penchant for the cute and the childish, a Japan whose manga and anime industries have come to dominate the world.
Warriors of Art takes its title from a phrase used to describe Taro Okamoto (1911-1996), perhaps the first truly influential contemporary artist to emerge in postwar Japan, who fought to bring modern art to a wider audience. Following in Okamotos footsteps, the forty artists featured in this book are a new generation of warriors, attacking our senses with a shocking mix of the cute, the grotesque, the sexy, and the violent, forcing us to sit up and take notice of their vision of Japan.
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| Customer Reviews:
Beyond Superflat April 24, 2009
Most people think of Japanese art as either the woodblock prints of the Edo period or modern manga. It appears that this is entirely appropriates, as modern Japanese art is some sort of strange marriage of the two.
I saw Murakami Takashi's "Superflat" exhibition in Seattle in 2001. At the time, I was shocked at how deeply anime and manga culture had shaped modern Japanese art. Although American comic books had some influence on fine art during the 1950s Pop Art movement and especially with artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, this was a whole different level. This was not just a self-conscious and ironic blending of high and low art. This was removing all barriers between the two, elevating art created for popular consumption to the level of gallery exhibition.
"Warriors of Art" shows that Murakami's Superflat Manifesto is very much alive, and dominating the Japanese art scene. Many of the young artists in this book have been hand-picked by Murakami, molded and shaped into his image. You can see his name all over the artist's profiles. But Murakami and his proteges are only continuing a tradition. The mix of child/adult sexuality, the erotic/grotesque imagery, even the heavy black line and bright colors, are all carried over from periods of Japanese art hundreds of years earlier.
Not that everyone in "Warriors of Art" comes from Murakami's school. Some, like Nara Yoshiitomo, are heavy hitters in their own right. Nara's paintings have been featured on CD covers for the band Shonen Knife, and have been exhibited all over the world. Others, like photographers Sawada Tomoko, Suzuki Ryoko, Yanagi Miwa and Morimura Yasumasa, all seem to be heavily influenced by Cindy Sherman with her self-portraits in various identities. It was interesting to note that, while this influence is readily apparent to anyone who has studied Art History, it was not commented on in the book.
Contemporary Japanese art is also influencing contemporary world art. One thing that can been seen amongst the works of various artists in "Warriors of Art" is the Japanese tendency to create characters, and to use these characters repetitiously in their works. Graffiti artist Banksy has adopted this motif, learning that the repetition of familiarity allows an instant entrance for viewers who might otherwise be put off by the discordant imagery. Some of these characters take on a life of their own, as Okazaki Takashi's "Afro Samurai" was later used as the basis for an animated series and a live-action film.
My personal favorite pieces in "Warriors of Art" where the ones that combine multiple influences, such as Aida Makoto's "The Giant Member Fuji versus King Gidora" which re-creates Hokusai Katsushika's infamous print "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" recasting it with Ultraman heroin Fuji Akiko and Godzilla's nemesis King Gidora. Tabaimo's piece "public conVENience" makes the wholly appropriate comparison of the internet to public restrooms. Both are places entirely open to the public, yet within very private and personal activities take place.
Great overview with beautiful visuals January 22, 2009
While attending the National Art Education Association conference in 2008 I went to a workshop on Contemporary Japenese art. I was blown away by some of the art that was being produced in Japan, a far cry from what I've seen here in the US. The presenter provided us with an outline and bibliography for more information. This book was on his list and I'm glad that I made the choice to purchase it. The visuals are stunning and they show a fairly wide range of contemporary art from Japan. Many different artists and subject matter are portrayed. I would recommend this book to anyone who was curious about current Japanese artwork and wanted to learn a little more.
A continuing artistic tradition of creativity December 26, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Japanese artistic sense continues incorporating the old with new sensibilities to produce new forms. The old culture impregnates the new artistic expression and women artists are having their say finally. There is something that is always intriguing about Japanese arts and crafts for it is hard to identify. The intensity of subtleness, the effort put into producing the beautiful and yet the faint hint of the ugly need for strength to survive one's environment all meld in Japan's current art. This book will intrigue, puzzle and make you think about art and its relevance today.
A jaw-dropping showcase of contemporary Japanese art June 9, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Written by Tokyo-based art critic Yumi Yamaguchi, Warriors of Art: A Guide to Contemporary Japanese Artists is a jaw-dropping showcase of contemporary Japanese art, from sculptures to drawings to photography to unorthodox media. Though some pieces are clearly influenced by manga or anime, many others are of a unique and refreshingly original style. Full-color photographs on every page immerse the reader in a grand visual spectacle, while the text introduces the reader to the basic concepts and message of individual artistic talents. A small number of pieces show nudity or even graphically sexual images; Warriors of Art is not for young children, though the majority of artworks presented are not erotic. Highly recommended.
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