Manga Hokusai Manga

Touring Sydney and Townsville

January – March, 2018

Love manga? Love Hokusai? Explore the work of Japan’s early comic genius Hokusai and his impact on contemporary manga culture with this free exhibition. Manga Hokusai Manga is a family-friendly exhibition that bridges traditional woodblock printing to manga which tours in early 2018 to Western Sydney’s Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Townsville’s Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.

Hokusai is one of the most versatile and innovative painter-illustrators of his time. He gained renown in Europe and North America in the late 19th century beginning with his Manga and his ukiyo-e (lit., “pictures of the floating world”) works. Hokusai depicted courtesans and stage actors, published landscapes series, illustrated entertaining narratives and even held painting performances.

Now over 200 years old, Hokusai Manga volumes remain a source of entertainment, but now offer a rich time-capsule of graphic inspiration and influence to contemporary audiences. Considered in the context of modern manga, Hokusai’s works provide us with insight into the constantly evolving expressions of manga, from line-work and composition, to expression and gesture. In this exhibition, new works by seven contemporary manga artists, based on the theme of Hokusai and his manga, trace the master’s profound legacy in contemporary Japanese art and graphic design culture.

Featured Event

Discover Ukiyo-e: An intimate demonstration of Japanese woodblock printing

Through discussions with Japanese experts, this event will provide an opportunity for printmakers, artists, and interested members of the public to experience the pleasure of ukiyo-e first hand. Travelling from Japan, ukiyo-e experts Yukiko Takahashi (sixth-generation owner of Takahashi atelier) and Kyoko Hirai (woodblock printer) will demonstrate the traditional techniques still practiced today, and introduce the rich history of Japan’s woodblock printing tradition.