WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts Exhibition at Japan House London
Inspired by an annual exhibition under the same name in Tokyo and curated by the same curators, Hiro Sugiyama and Takahashi Kintarō, ‘WAVE’ exhibition displays artworks from Japan’s most significant graphic artists.
Many of the artists are heavily influenced by anime and manga and well-known for their iconic designs and collaborations with the most famous brands.
@urbanadventurerldn Wave: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts | 📍Japan House London | 6 July – 22 Oct 2023 | Free to visit. Just a book a time slot | #japanhouselondon #waveexhibition #japanesegraphicdesign #japaneseart #animemanga #urbanadventures #londonadventures
WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts
Japan House London | 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA
Photo: Urban Adventurer
WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts represents a selection of 60 well-known and emerging Japanese artists.
The artworks displayed in the exhibition include elements of pop art, surrealism, and illustration, representing a variety of styles and artistic backgrounds from artists from their early twenties to their late eighties.
Inspired by Anime/Manga
Kageyama Tōru: Sharaku
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Among the artworks on display, you’ll find many artists heavily inspired by anime and manga, such as Kageyama Tōru who is best known for his book cover designs in Japan. Besides anime and manga his main influence are European and Chinese landscapes, as well as 18th century Japan’s ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition.
Hayakawa Motohiro: X Planet Battles
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Hayakawa Motohiro’s bold and colourful paintings represent vintage sci-fi heroes, aliens and robots in psychedelic, dreamlike landscapes. His illustrations and characters are heavily engaging with comic-style battle scenes.
Terada Katsuya (Untitled)
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Terada Katsuya is an anime and manga artist who designed characters for video games, Japanese animated films and series and worked on some of the most famous American comics: Iron Man and Hellboy.
Artist Oki-chu’s unmissable style is called ‘automatism’ and he is known for his elaborated pen and pencil drawings. His primary influences are the world of anime and manga and video games. This influence is tangible in his artworks.
Japan’s Leading Artists and Illustrators
Tanaami Keiichi: Shōnen Tiger 02, Shonen Oja, Shōnen Tiger 01
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Visitors have the privilege to see original artworks from Japan’s leading illustrators and commercial illustrators.
Tanaami Keiichi is one of Japan’s leading pop artists. He has worked as a graphic designer since 1960s. He is an illustrator, and video artist, showing his artwork in numerous exhibitions in Japan and abroad.
Maki Kahori: Meditative Flower
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Maki Kahori is best known for her incredibly detailed flowers and plants motifs. She has collaborated with the biggest brands, such as Apple and Adobe Systems.
Uno Akira is one of Japan’s leading artists and illustrators, best known for his timeless characters and fantasy scenes.
Yamaguchi Harumi is a leading name in Japanese advertising. She is known for her female character, ‘Harumi Gals’. A glamours, strong, confident, and active female figure free from traditional feminine roles.
Hanai Yusuke’s name might be familiar to many of us by his collaboration with Vans. Hanai is influenced by beatnik, hippie and surf culture. In his artworks, he depicts an adventurous, wanderlust lifestyle.
Ichijō Hikaru: Twins
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Ichijō Hikaru, influenced by print technology and designs bold images of athletic female figures. She has collaborated with Nike and Calbee.
Book cover design by tupera tupera
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Tupera Tupera, a designer team of husband and wife, have created some of Japan’s most popular children’s books, including ‘Shirokuma no pantsu’ (Polar Bear’s Underpants).
The book is available to purchase in the shop of Japan House.
‘Heta-Uma’ – Ugly but Beautiful
Yumura Teruhiko: GONZO’S Underground Mix Vol.7
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‘Heta-Uma’ movement (translated as ‘bad but good’) also represents itself at ‘WAVE’. ‘Heta-Uma’ movement emerged in the 1970s thanks to a manga magazine, called GARO. ‘Heta-Uma’ challenges our perspective of what is ‘ugly’ and what is ‘beautiful’. It asks the question: can something that is considered to be ugly, be beautiful at the same time?
Make Your Own WAVE Badge Workshop
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A fun badge-making workshop is connected to the exhibition where you can choose from a number of ready-made badge designs based on the 60 different artworks featured in the exhibition or use your creativity and create your own.
Book your session here.
AKIRA Restaurant
‘Heta-Uma’ Colour-Changing Cocktail inspired by WAVE Exhibition at AKIRA Restaurant
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Make sure you visit AKIRA Restaurant upstairs for amazing bento boxes and try the new exhibition-inspired colour-changing cocktail: ‘Heta-Uma’
‘Heta-Uma’ Cocktail
Orange-infused shōchū, sake, star anise, and blue curaçao are shaken over ice, before being poured into glass filled with ice and lined with grenadine. Next, lichee and yuzu juice added to the blend to form a white cloud in your glass. Finally, the cocktail is garnished with a raspberry soaked in absinthe and set light in front of your eyes.
Mix the cocktail well to see it changes colour from dreamy blue to vivid orange.
Bento Box at AKIRA Restaurant – Japan House
Photo: Urban Adventurer
TIP: From Tue – Fri AKIRA Restaurant offers £10 OFF* their signature bento boxes at lunchtime. *Online booking only.
Practical Info
Moriguchi Yūji: ~ Denouement ~
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Opening Dates/Times
6th July – 22nd October 2023
Mon-Sat: 10am-8pm
Sun & bank holidays: 12pm – 6pm
Address
Japan House London | 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA
Tickets
Admission is FREE | Booking recommended on Japan House’s website
Ready for your next adventure? I teamed up with one of London’s best fandom shops, House of Spells to give you 10% OFF EVERYTHING in-store and online! Use magic code: ‘URBAN’ when shopping online or whisper it to the cashier before paying in-store.