I went to Kuniyoshi Utadaga's Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery located inside of Roppongi Hills. Among all printings at the exhibition, my favorite was The Monsters' Chusingura. Chushingura is the Japanese famous true story happened in Edo-piriod, and was based on Samurai's loyalty that touches many Japanese hearts. A monster stands at the center performs Chushingura as Kabuki actors that is because during a certain period of time Tokugawa government prohibited to show Kabuki actors and women on Ukiyoe prints, so Kuniyoshi started to use animals to perform their roles instead of Kabuki actors.
Kuniyoshi's prints are based on superb technique, creative design, bizarre idea and remarkable imagination. His works don't look old at all, and seems still well accepted to the design world today.
For example, this one looks very alike the album jacket of King Crimson's "In the court of the Crimson King".
As you can see, Japanese Manga has been made a big influences from Ukiyoe. Ukiyoe, woodblock print, was originally used for book illustration such has similar aspect as Manga and allows the production for multiple copies of works. Ukiyoe's subjects are usually stories common among the people and things around the people such as animals and human itself. Ukiyoe has different aspect from "Art" in general, but that tradition is handed down to Manga and still preserved as visual culture which familiar to the Japanese people.
Kuniyoshi's prints are based on superb technique, creative design, bizarre idea and remarkable imagination. His works don't look old at all, and seems still well accepted to the design world today.
For example, this one looks very alike the album jacket of King Crimson's "In the court of the Crimson King".
As you can see, Japanese Manga has been made a big influences from Ukiyoe. Ukiyoe, woodblock print, was originally used for book illustration such has similar aspect as Manga and allows the production for multiple copies of works. Ukiyoe's subjects are usually stories common among the people and things around the people such as animals and human itself. Ukiyoe has different aspect from "Art" in general, but that tradition is handed down to Manga and still preserved as visual culture which familiar to the Japanese people.
■Kuniyoshi Utagawa
The artist who was to be known to history as Kuniyoshi Utagawa was born in Edo(Tokyo) in 1797. He was the son of a silk dyer named Yanagiya Kichiemon and was given the name Yoshizaburo at birth. At the age of 14, Yoshizaburo joined the Utagawa School of ukiyoe artists, then headed by Utagawa Toyokuni I. Toyokuni Igave Yoshisaburo the name Utagawa Kuniyoshi; "Kuniyoshi" being a combination of the names "Toyokuni" and "Yoshisaburo".
In 1814, Kuniyoshi ended his apprenticeship and set out as an independent artist. He initially produced actor prints in the style of his teacher, which gained him little recognition. Kuniyoshi achieved a commercial and artistic breakthrough in 1827 with the first six designs of the series, The 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. The series was bases upon a 14th century Chinese novel about the adventures of a band of 108 honorable bandits and rebels.
In 1814, Kuniyoshi ended his apprenticeship and set out as an independent artist. He initially produced actor prints in the style of his teacher, which gained him little recognition. Kuniyoshi achieved a commercial and artistic breakthrough in 1827 with the first six designs of the series, The 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. The series was bases upon a 14th century Chinese novel about the adventures of a band of 108 honorable bandits and rebels.
Like his teacher, Kuniyoshi had many students including his own daughters. Kuniyoshi had a special fondness for cats, which overran his studio and are portrayed in many of his prints.
Although Kuniyoshi is now universally known as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, he also used the names Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi, Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi, Igusa Kuniyoshi, Ichi Kuniyoshi and Saihosa Kuniyoshi. He died from complications of a stroke on April 14, 1861.
(From Kuniyoshi Project)
