I went to see an exhibition of breathtaking original paintings by the artist responsible for creating Totoro’s forest. Oga Kazuo is an art director and background artist for Studio Ghibli. The exhibition showcases his striking work for films including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away, among others.
The Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, is showing one of the most curious and beautiful exhibitions I have seen in a long time — what’s more, it was so relevant to my own work that I wish I’d seen it during my Anatomy of Intimacy project last year. Seeing it now, it’s rekindled my intrigue in the subject and I feel that I could pick it up again.
“For most human beings their own body represents both the most familiar and most unknown of worlds. From ancient times humans have sought to unravel the secret mechanisms of the body, developing in the process a wealth of medical expertise. At the same time we have seen our own bodies as vessels for the representation of ideals of beauty, and long sought to depict our bodies in paintings and drawings.”
The exhibition showcases a variety of work, from classical anatomical drawings (including some by Leonardo da Vinci), antique surgical equipment and artificial limbs to contemporary works of art by Damien Hurst, Marc Quinn and Stelarc. The exhibition runs until the 28th of February 2010.
Ivory Anatomical Figures of a Male and Pregnant Female / ca.17-18th century, possibly German / Science Museum, London
Walter Schels / Life Before Death – Klara Behrens / 6th February 2004 / 3rd March 2004 / Collection of the Artist
Gilles Barbier / L’Hospice (The Nursing Home) / 2002 / Martin Z. Margulies, Miami, Florida, USA
Happy New Year, Daikichi Vol.3 is back again, and the story continues at Ladybird Bar in Angel Islington.
