Japan Art Revolution: The Japanese Avant-Garde, from Angura to Provoke

Amélie Ravalec

New
Book cover for Japan Art Revolution: The Japanese Avant-Garde, from Angura to Provoke
Image for variant 9780500029107
Book cover for Japan Art Revolution: The Japanese Avant-Garde, from Angura to Provoke
Image for variant 9780500029107

Japan Art Revolution: The Japanese Avant-Garde, from Angura to Provoke

Japan Art Revolution: The Japanese Avant-Garde, from Angura to Provoke

Amélie Ravalec

Member Benefits

  • 40% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
  • Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$50.00 $30.00
Non-Member Book Price $50.00

An annual membership will be billed at $48/year.

Discount applies to first-time members only. Already a member? Log in here.

View full details

Description

The 1960s in Japan were a time of profound social change, political unrest, and student protests. The turbulent years of the postwar era inspired an artistic explosion, with the emergence of a revolutionary scene of avant-garde artists who pioneered many disciplines: experimental and erotic photography, "Angura" theater and underground street performances, apocalyptic butoh dance, surreal illustrations, and seminal graphic design.

Taking design cues from Japanese luminaries Yokoo Tadanori and Awazu Kiyoshi, Japan Art Revolution showcases more than six hundred captivating artworks, encompassing photographs, film stills, theater posters, and illustrations by visionary artists including Moriyama Daido, Hosoe Eiko, Araki Nobuyoshi, Ishiuchi Miyako, Tanaami Keiichi, Hijikata Tatsumi, Ohno Kazuo, Terayama Shuji, Tenjo Sajiki, Kawada Kikuji, Neo-Dada Organizers, Hi--Red Center, Hanaga Mitsutoshi, Nakahira Takuma, and Tanabe Santaro, to name a few of the artists featured in this book.

Drawing on extensive interviews with these iconic artists, this comprehensive publication offers readers a nuanced understanding of the thriving world of Japanese avant--garde art, complemented by insightful texts and quotes from esteemed experts, curators, academics, and archivists.

Critical Reviews

Japan Art Revolution is particularly interesting given that it showcases the back and forth between many of the artists featured in its pages... [It] provides a marvelous overview of what Japan's most cutting-edge artists would produce. The illustrations are complemented by a wealth of quotes either by the artists themselves or by a number of scholars. As can be expected, the artists talking about themselves and their work yields in much insight into why things look the way they look. The experience of living under frequent bombings during World War 2 and the later occupation play very prominent roles.-- "Conscientious Photography Magazine"

This riotous collection... revels in the wild world of 1960s and '70s Japanese counterculture... Much of the work highlighted is politically charged, including striking photographs of Hiroshima's aftermath and student protests against the Vietnam War. But there's also plenty of room for the playful, the sexual, and the bizarre... The book's stylish, pop art-inspired layouts set a funky and edgy mood, and the text enriches the art rather than crowding it out. The result is an energetic, eye-popping peek into the history of the Asian avant-garde.
-- "Publishers Weekly 2025 Holiday Gift Guide"

Publishing Information

Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Pub date: 2026-01-27
Length: 320 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 40% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.