Japan: Art and Manga

JAPAN Art and Manga is an exhibition that traces the history of manga from its historical origins to the present day, revealing the close relationship between modern manga and traditional Japanese art, and highlighting the enormous artistic impact that manga has worldwide.

Through 10 different thematic areas, JAPAN Art and Manga presents a collection with more than 200 objects and works of art that help us understand the different aspects and stages in the development of this exceptional art.

‘The Art of Manga’ will illustrate the historical importance of scrolls such as “Choju giga” (12th century), primitive beginnings of manga, and the “Manga Hokusai” from the Edo period, as the most direct root of manga.

You can also see the influence of Japanese woodblock printing on the way stories are told in manga, the development of children’s manga and the history of Kamishibai (paper theater), the creative and collaborative process of manga artists, the evolution of manga for teenagers, the emergence of Gekiga or “dramatic image” and the impact of the media on the growth of manga in the 20th century.

The exhibition will also pay tribute to pioneering mangakas such as Osamu Tezuka, known in Japan as “the god of manga” and Shigeru Mizuki, an artist known for popularizing Yokai themes and style, based on creatures belonging to Japanese folklore.