To mark the 70th anniversary of the “Establishment of Diplomatic Relations” between Japan and India; and showcasing the Best of Japanese Arts and Culture through Manga i.e. Cartoons, Ukiyo-e classic paintings and Book covers at the Japan Information and Study Centre at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) in association with the Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai have organized the International Travelling Exhibition. The Exhibition was started in New Delhi and then held in Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The Exhibition is popularly known as “MANGA HOKUSAI MANGA ART SHOW” that includes Grand Master Hokusai’s Exhibition of Ukiyo-e Classics with Contemporary Creatives of Celebrated Manga Artists.
Mr. Amit Ambalal, Renowned Artist and Mr. Toshihiro Kaneko, Chief Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai inaugurated the International Exhibition today at AMA. On the eventful occasion of the Inauguration of the Exhibition Mr. Mukesh Patel, President of Indo-Japan Friendship Association and Mr. Deevyesh Radia, President of AMA addressed about the unique cultural bond between India and Japan through such Manga creations. Cartoons and comics are very popular in Japan and India. Doraemon is a very popular Manga of Japan. According to the research study conducted by The University of Tokyo, Mangas help in the intellectual development of children and adults too. In Doraemon, the different gadgets of Doraemon inspire individuals to invent and innovate Science and technology. In Gujarat some popular Mangas are known as Miya Fuski, Champak and other series of publications.
By introducing some of the similarities and differences between modern Japanese Manga, which now enjoy worldwide popularity, and Hokusai Manga, a collection of sketches by the Ukiyo-e Artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), this exhibition sets out to introduce the charms of this unique field of Japanese culture. Focusing on pictorial storytelling and participatory culture of “Manga” from different periods, the exhibits include panels, books, videos, and a group of new works by contemporary Manga artists.
The Japanese Manga is the art form of pictorial storytelling which has evolved over the years in Japan. Manga art has its roots in ancient Japanese Art. The term Manga is used in Japan to refer to both comics and cartooning. The origins of Manga can be traced as far back as the 12th century. The exhibition also displays Artworks by Artist Katsushika Hokusai who laid the foundation for the Manga movement in Japan. Katsushika Hokusai or popularly known as Hokusai was a Japanese Ukiyo-e Artist of the Edo period. The meaning of Ukiyo-e is ‘pictures of the floating world’. Ukiyo-e laid the foundation for the Manga movement in Japan. The tradition was followed by Master Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” and artist Hiroshige’s “The Fifty three Stations of the Tokaido.” Manga represents all that is fragile, whimsical, funny, prosaic and entertaining. It paves a brave and revolutionary artistic inroad into a world that transforms the fleeting into something enduring, abiding and artistic.
This Exhibition displays 15 volumes of Hokusai’s works and also features seven contemporary Manga artists i.e. Ichikawa Haruko’s ‘Summer Fields’, Igarashi Daisuke’s ‘A Person Who Draws the World’, Kyo Machiko’s ‘Innocent Toys’, Nishijima Daisuke’s ‘La Mer I’, Okadaya Tetuzoh’s ‘That’s All For Now’, Shiriagari Kotobuki’s ‘Funny Face 2015’, and Yokoyama Yuichi’s ‘Giant Elephant’, who revisited Hokusai’s Manga.
The self-explanatory exhibition is divided into four parts that will walk you through the history of Manga and Hokusai’s Manga. The first part ‘Hokusai Manga: Funny Pictures?’ shows block printed figures on 15-stitched-bound volumes while also explaining the etymology of the term ‘Manga’. These block-printed images are portrayed every-day-life in Japan and Hokusai’s version of it.
The second part ‘A Character Named Hokusai’ displays several contemporary Mangas which featured Hokusai as a part of their narratives. Some of the manga artists who incorporated this are – Kamimura Kazuo, Sugiura Hinako, Ishoinomori Shotaro, Samura Hiroaki, Sakura Sawa, and Saeki Konosuke.
The third part ‘Manga Like Ukiyo-e, Ukiyo-e Like Manga’ explores the Manga techniques like- balloons, symbolic lines, panelling, and eye size. The fourth part ‘Hokusai Manga: Shared Manual!’ displays the playful side of Hokusai’s Manga. Towards the end of the exhibition, people can see various famous Manga.
The Exhibition will remain open for the public everyday from 12 noon to 7:00 pm from January 21 to February 02, 2023 at Ahmedabad Management Association. The entry is free and you are cordially invited to visit this Exhibition. For more details please call us on 079-26308601 or visit our website: www.amaindia.org
