Our Thursday series features must-read books from each branch of the art bookshop NADiff. This week's pick is "Kawanabe Kyosai: The Rebellious Painter" by Kano Hiroyuki and Kawanabe Kusumi. It's introduced by our Shibuya branch, NADiff modern (Bunkamura, 2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 1st basement floor).

■ "Kawanabe Kyosai: The Rebellious Painter" by Kano Hiroyuki and Kawanabe Kusumi

Kawanabe Kyosai, an artist active from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era, was also known as "Kyosai," a madman who was almost a saint, transgressing the secular world. After studying under ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, he went on to study under Maemura Towa of the Kano school. Towa nicknamed him "Art Demon" (Demon of Painting) after observing his single-minded devotion to his paintings. The brilliance of his artistic talent lies in the exceptional drawing skills he acquired by sketching life-like objects, particularly in his animal paintings. Like Kuniyoshi, who loved cats, Kyosai also kept a variety of animals in his garden and passionately sketched them. His paintings of mice, bats, and other animals performing acrobatic feats are humorous and entertaining. Born in 1831, amid the Meiji Restoration, Kyosai's paintings often depict telegraph poles and steamships that emerged as a result of the Meiji Restoration, as well as foreign figures, including Kyosai's disciple Josiah Conder. Even more fascinating are the numerous caricatures of customs that expose the inner workings of humanity, poking fun at the foolish people who were swayed by the Meiji Restoration. A Kyosai exhibition is currently being held at Bunkamura The Museum. Along with this book, we hope you will enjoy the incredible artistic talent of Kyosai/Kyōsai, who was recognized worldwide.
【Book Information】
"The Rebellious Painter Kawanabe Kyosai"
Authors: Kano Hiroyuki, Kawanabe Kusumi
Publisher: Shinchosha
214 x 151mm / 126 pages
Published: July 2010
Price: 1,500 yen
【Exhibition Information】
"The Goldman Collection: This is Kyosai! His artistic talent recognized worldwide"
Venue: Bunkamura The Museum
Address: 2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, B1F
Dates: February 23rd - April 16th *Open every day during the exhibition period
Hours: 10:00 - 19:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission Fee: Adults 1,400 yen (groups 1,200 yen), university and high school students 1,000 yen (groups 800 yen), middle and elementary school students 700 yen (groups 500 yen)