Art and fashion often reflect or react to current socioeconomic or political events. The Japanese do this particularly well. As a child I preferred anime to western cartoons. As an adult Japanese video games or animated movies dealt with difficult topics on a much deeper, progressive and futuristic way.
One of these genres is Kawaii. Japanese for cute.
Im not sure but im guessing that part of this self expression is a longing for childhood. And to be honest, I envy the kids (under 20) for their access to toys that my generation did not have. I admire their ease with which they tell society that walking around with iconic childhood blushes on a key chain is cool and socially acceptable.
The 1950s were the golden age of science fiction. In part due to the global post war economic depression. Children in particular needed superheroes to rescue the world and let them know that the world will improve.
By the time I was a teen Greenpeace had already rescued the whales. Pesticides had been banned for a while, there was a positive outlook. Goths took themselves too seriously hippies and punks were long gone in terms of trendiness.
The Japanese are technologically advanced and ahead of us. And when they do something especially in art its next level as the kids say.
There is nothing new about Harajuku girls. The creativity of making themselves look like dolls is incredible. For the last decade or so I've started seeing the prince look, inspired by anime characters translated into real life.
Then there is Kawaii 3D nail art. The image below is done with molding paste and acrylic gel. I've looked into Acrylic embedding or epoxy resin years ago, but the materials are very toxic. To create this miniature art work on something as transitory as a nail though? I've seen quite a few that are very Kawaii kitsch with prefabricated charms as they're called, but also galaxies, planets where the nail polish is cured and magnetized (whatever that means).
Very playful and creative. The embedded pendants we've seen are usually pressed flowers that seem outdated to me. Im not interested in creating small pieces but am amazed at this wearable art.
Japanese anime became popular in the US long after I was grown and my kids nearly grown (they were born at the tail end of Gen X , '77 and '79) so while my younger son was into Pokemon for a while neither is a particular fan of anime now as far as I know. I had a neighbor though, fat old bald white guy, who went to different comic conventions to sell paintings of anime characters and miniature medieval war engines that he made.
ReplyDeleteAs for Japan and the arts, Japan considers art just as necessary as anything else and art and aesthetics are incorporated into everything, artists are considered national treasures. Unlike the US where function defines form and beauty/art never enters the picture.
Codex: The culture is amazing in that regard. Anime figurines are incredibly popular. People paint them themselves. Incredible art work. I dabbled in painting anime just for fun.
DeleteI can appreciate the skill involved but what does one do with nails like that? How does one do anything but sit and show them off? Imagine a trip to the loo/restroom/bathroom/toilet, how does one wipe with nails like that?
ReplyDeleteCodex: I don't know. I was looking at the technique and how they paint the little items. How does one even paint anything that small? How do they write type or do anything that doesn't snag?
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