Art Exhibition: “Ukiyo-e Pop” – Ukiyo-e & Contemporary Japonism At ICN Gallery London

Location: ICN gallery 96-98 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH

Date: 5th July – 8th September 2012

Traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints and contemporary manga illustration combine for a must-see exhibition at the ICN gallery in London.

A fabulous selection of works from the masters of landscape printings Hokusai and Hiroshige alongside upcoming modern artists from the world of anime, manga and gaming centring the theme of ‘landscapes’ are on display. Although the two styles are from different periods in time, they are not so dissimilar in their concempts as one might at first think.

Hokusai: “View of Mount Fuji from Ejiri”

The word ‘Ukiyo- 􀷔􀍖􀩈 ‘ implicates the meaning of’ contemporary- 􀝱􀭅 ‘. Ukiyo-e therefore can be seen as contemporary documents, illustrating the Zeitgeist of each era. Now again, contemporary Japanese manga and anime are causing significant buzz in the Western world, starting in France naming the new wave “Contemporary Japonism”. These modern day manga illustrators are, like Ukiyo-e artists form the Edo period, called “Eshi- 􀖆􀢣”– simply meaning ‘painter’ and increasingly celebrated as ‘genius’ and ‘superstars’ on illustration websites. It is obvious that only the medium has shifted from analog to digital, bearing in mind the concept of printing a multitude copies of the same image, making both Ukiyo-e and manga illustrations a channel for pop-culture.

About Contemporary Japonism:

Through the extensive use of SNS, the digital illustration scene in Japan is witnessing a new boom. Just as Ukiyo-e artists influenced a whole generation of young people 250 years ago, now online illustration communities are the ideal platform to foster superstars and buzz. These superstars very much are contemporary Ukiyo-e artists with the only change being analogue to digital techniques. Now as in the past, Japanese still enjoy drawing. We introduce artists from the world of illustration, manga, anime and gaming in Japan. Keeping you in the loop of contemporary japonism.

Throughout the exhibition’s run, which concludes on 8th September, there will be a selection of gallery talks by experts in the field ukiyo-e of ukiyo-e.

An example of “Contemporary Japonism”

Scheduled events:

Gallery Talks (with complimentary AOI green tea for all guests)

19 July 7pm-8pm

“Hokusai & Hiroshige: Masters of Ukiyo-e Landscape prints” by Dr. Monika Hinkel (SOAS/V&A)

2 Aug 7pm-8pm

“Ukiyo-e from the design point of view” by Joe Keating (Designer) & Hisami Omori (Curator)

16 Aug 7pm-8pm

“Japanese Landscape prints: Then & Now” by Dr. Monika Hinkel (SOAS/V&A)

To view more photos, click here.

About ICN gallery:

ICN gallery is a contemporary art gallery based in London that actively seeks to showcase and share with the UK public the most outstanding upcoming young contemporary artists from Japan and other Asian countries.

Neither seeking to imitate the West nor call for a return to pure tradition, the ICN gallery artists’ works present messages on today’s dynamically changing world of Asia. Producing works of pure creativity, they expand beyond established boundaries, incorporating ideas of art, culture and philosophy with originality and skill.

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