It would be plain to say the works of both Gaudi and Takahiro Inoue's were impressive and compelling.
The greater thing to come away with from exhibition is the consideration of artistic creation and expression come from. We are moved and compelled by what we observe. Nature served a great part in influencing Gaudi's hand. As for Inoue-san it seems that Gaudi, the man himself has compelled his hand rather than his expressive voice. Indeed he has interpreted Gaudi in his own way -- interpreting his work with Gaudi's voice would be of course, just copying.
"The creation continues incessantly through the media of man. But man does not create, he discovers. Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator. Copiers do not collaborate. Because of this, originality consists in returning to the origin." - Antoni Gaudi
Another inspiring exhibition is about to hit Tokyo. Takahiko Inoue (井上雄彦)artist of the hugely popular Japanese manga titles "Slam Dunk" and "Vagabond" apparently has has been admirer of modernist architect Antoni Gaudi for some time. So much so that it inspired him to tour Spain and record his travel memoirs, in his art book, "Pepita: Inoue Meets Gaudi" .
This tribute to Gaudi, Spain and its people resulted in Inoue being awarded the honor of becoming Spain's goodwill ambassador.
All this is culminating in a final celebration of the 400th Anniversary of diplomacy between Japan and Spain. (400?!) An exhibition at the Mori Arts Center in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills: Takehiko Inoue Interprets Gaudi's Universe will start July 12.
100 art pieces and works comprising of rough sketches, models and architectural designs related to Gaudi will be brought from Spain to Japan, along with 40 original illustrations by Inoue himself.
Takehiko Inoue is living what most certainly must be living a dream as he is currently living in Barcelona and working in a studio within Gaudi's very own Casa Mila.
Personally not a fan of Eiichiro Oda's manga, One Piece. Arguably the most commercially popular manga in Japan since Dragonball.
Like it or not this manga is a marker for this generation of Japanese and manga-philes. I'm sure in about 10 or 15 years some Hollywood studio will acquire the rights to do a live action version of it....and likely screw it up.
From March 20th to June 17 the Mori Arts Center in Roppongi Hills (Tokyo, Japan) will host a One Piece Exhibition featuring original artwork, films, interactive media and all that geek stuff.
Johnny-Come-Lately again, BUT at least this time, you have two days left to catch this.
Anyone remember the anime or manga series Baoh? JoJo's Bizarre Adventure? If art, animation, illustration, Gucci or fashion stirs anything in you, this is something you might want to check out.
Observing its 90th Anniversary (80th Anniversary in Japan), Gucci has collaborated with manga artist Hirohiko Araki in connection with his 30th Anniversary (in the business I have to assume). I was more familiar with the anime and manga series, Baoh which was published back in the late eighties in Japan but didn't get translated for U.S. audiences until the early nineties.
This might not seem like the obvious match up, but maybe fans of the manga or anime, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure might know that Araki has named some of his characters after famous fashion designers. To his advantage, there even an echo of his characters in the Gucci logo as one part of the JoJo's story it set in Italy and JoJo is known there as "GioGio". (Is that reading too much into it?)
I blogged earlier about the death of illustration in light of the way film poster art has been hijacked by Photoshopped photography. But things like this bring optimism that the powers that be understand illustration and the hand-drawn line still has a significant impact on people. American comic artist J. Scott Campbell did a similar comic art/ fashion collaboration with Express Jeans in 2003 and Hogan Milan Fashion Week in 2007. Dig around, I'm sure you'll find images.
The exhibition hall showcasing this work can be found at the GUCCI Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo....until, ah, October 6th. There you will find original artwork and illustrations by Araki as well as a full sized figure of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure character, Rohan Kishibe. Also if you're in town grab a copy of the October issue of Japanese fashion magazine, Spur. Inside is a 16 page manga of "Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci".
If you can't get to Shinjuku in the next couple of days, or get a hold of Spur, I've included images from the magazine and the event below. Enjoy.
