JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will present “This is MANGA – the Art of NAOKI URASAWA,” the first North American exhibition of internationally acclaimed Japanese manga artist, Naoki Urasawa. Considered a modern master, Urasawa combines dynamic storytelling and transcendent artistic skill in the development of rich and sophisticated characters. His stories touch upon the hopes, dreams, and at times underlying fears of humanity.
This retrospective exhibition will introduce Urasawa’s ideas from inception through development, with an extraordinary presentation of more than 400 original drawings and storyboards. Selected stories from seven of his major works will be presented in English, highlighting the breadth of the artist’s narrative styles, including: YAWARA!, MONSTER, 20th Century Boys, PLUTO, BILLY BAT, MASTER KEATON ReMASTER (Story by Takashi Nagasaki), and MUJIRUSHI (“The Sign of Dreams”, with the cooperation of Fujio Productions).
The Japan House L.A. exhibit will present the opportunity for the U.S. public to enjoy Urasawa’s manga directly from his hand-drawn pages, offering a unique glimpse into the artist’s process and psyche.
“This is MANGA – the Art of NAOKI URASAWA” opens to the public on January 23, 2019, and runs through March 28.
Presented and Organized by: JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles / The Yomiuri Shimbun
Sponsored by: Shimizu Octo
In cooperation with: N WOOD STUDIO / SHOGAKUKAN / KODANSHA / POMATO PRO. / Yamato Global Logistics Japan / ANA / Bay Bridge Studio / AGASUS / VIZ Media
Special assistance provided by: Takashi Nagasaki / Kazuya Kudo / Hokusei Katsushika / Tezuka Productions Co. / Fujio Productions
Art Direction by: Kaitaro Kiuchi (POMATO PRO.)
Curatorial support provided by: Stéphane Beaujean (Art Director of the Angoulême International Comics Festival)
NAOKI URASAWA Artist Talk & Book Signing
Drawing My World: An Interview with NAOKI URASAWA
January 23, 2019
On January 23, 2019, as part of the public engagement programming for the exhibition This is MANGA – the Art of NAOKI URASAWA, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will host an exclusive book signing and evening of live drawing and conversation with the renowned manga artist, Drawing My World: An Interview with NAOKI URASAWA.
Since his professional debut in 1983, Naoki Urasawa has continually pushed the limits of the manga medium, engaging readers with his innovative composition techniques and versatile drawing prowess, as he creates highly engrossing works that are both introspective and philosophical. Urasawa is considered a modern manga master, combining dynamic storytelling and transcendent artistic skill in his development of rich and sophisticated characters. His stories touch upon the hopes, dreams, and at times underlying fears of humanity.
Following a book signing in the gallery, the evening Artist Talk will be a lively interview with Naoki Urasawa, moderated by award-winning manga researcher and translator Fredrik L. Schodt. During the interview, Urasawa will be illustrating his responses projected on a screen above the conversation. Guests can look forward to a relaxed exchange on topics related to Urasawa’s influences from seminal manga to world history and international pop culture. The conversation will also touch upon Urasawa’s relationship with Osamu Tezuka, his current exhibition at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, and his position as an artist at the top of his field.
This will be a rare opportunity for the audience to experience both the mind and the skill of one the most prolific manga artists of our time.
Artist Talk | Drawing My World: An Interview with NAOKI URASAWA
Time: 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm
Venue: JAPAN HOUSE Salon, Level 5
Registration: Click here. Space is limited. Please reserve your seats early.
Book Signing
Time: 6:00 pm to 7:00pm
Venue: JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2
Registration: NOT necessary. Participation is limited to the first 50 guests who make a purchase from a selection of Urasawa manga books at the JAPAN HOUSE Monozukuri Shop. Purchase is required. Please, no outside books or fan material.
ABOUT JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES
JAPAN HOUSE seeks to foster awareness and appreciation for Japan around the world by showcasing the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, technology, and more. An innovative project of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JAPAN HOUSE is comprised of three hubs—London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo.
JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES occupies two floors in the popular Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex and brings various aspects of Japan to American and international audiences.
On the second floor, the facility spans more than 6,000 sq. ft. and features an exhibition gallery, a retail space that carries an expertly curated selection of uniquely Japanese products, a small café, and a sub-gallery suitable for intimate gallery talks and smaller exhibitions. The fifth-floor space spans 8,000 sq. ft, and features an elegant, fine-dining Japanese restaurant, a relaxing library, a multi-purpose event venue, and simply spectacular views of Los Angeles.
Naoki Urasawa Twitter: https://twitter.com/urasawa_naoki
Naoki Urasawa’s Music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kmbC7n35u81LaR7VKyaaX
Japan House Los Angeles Information & Events: https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles
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