Get lost in Amano's fantasy in broad daylight
Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano’s “Fantasy in Daylight” is under way at the Modern Art Museum through September 1.
Nearly 200 original paintings, 38 large hand drawings and seven animated films are showcased, featuring a full spectrum of the artist’s work over the past 50 years. Amano’s commissioned series “Shanghai Girl” was also unveiled on the opening day last week.
Amano is considered in Japan as nothing short of a master whose creations lie somewhere between fine art and Japanese anime, manga, and video games (commonly referred to in China as ACG). He was the lead character designer for many games in the series.
Born in a family of lacquer craftsmen in 1952 in Shizuoka, Japan, Amano was fascinated with drawing since his early years.
Greatly influenced by the traditional Japanese culture on one side, he was, on the other, exposed to the popular art of today, such as anime, manga, science fiction, games, art, drama and literature.
Respected art curator and critic Victoria Yung-Chih Lu once commented: “Yoshitaka Amano’s heroes and heroines are usually created in a unique, cross-cultural style. His strange, imaginative characters are balancing at the border of reality and fantasy, giving the viewers a blissful visual experience.”
During the exhibition, Amano’s animated film “1001 Nights” will be played in theater with a wraparound screen.
Date: Through September 1 (closed Mondays), 10am-6pm
Venue: Modern Art Museum
Address: 4777 Binjiang Ave, Pudong New Area
