The Japanese artist Ozuma Kaname, born in Niigata in 1939, was trained in classical Japanese painting by his uncle Sakai Soushi. His images are mainly inspired on the traditional subjects to which he adds beautifully tattooed (wabori) female figures tied-up in inescapable poses.
Horiyoshi III
Ozuma’s paintings were a major influence on the work of the popular tattoo artist Horiyoshi III (1946). In return, Horiyoshi’s clients were frequently used as models for Ozuma’s paintings. He signed his work only with his family name.
Irezumi
Although Ozuma mastered the art of Japanese traditional tattooing, called irezumi, he himself became a huge inspiration for contemporary tattoo-artists. Especially his second book, published in 1995, is now an important reference.
Jigsaw Puzzles
His depictions of dragons and Buddhist deities can not only be found in the tattoo subculture but also in mainstream Japanese culture (such as jigsaw puzzles and postcards). This is quite an accomplishment since tattoos have a bad stigma in Japan. Ozuma’s tattoo paintings are seen as masterpieces among irezumi connoisseurs. He died from cancer in 2011.
The following video shows more of Ozuma’s amazing tattoo art:
Click HERE for ancient shunga art with tattooed protagonists…!!!
Comment Section
3 thoughts on “Ozuma Kaname and His Tortured Tattooed Beauties”
By Anonymous on 22 January 2018
Art is one thing but allowing zoophilia in art should be banned. Sexuality could and should be expressed without the use of an animal. I don’t get why people would like these kinds of ‘arts’ unless they are sickos who enjoy zoophilia. Very disgusting and disturbing!
By Marijn on 23 January 2018
Thanks for your comments. I think art should not be limited and avoid any subject matter. Sexuality is and always will be one of the main themes in art, and art IMHO is about seeking truth not always beauty or ‘good taste’. Animals are part of our environment and yes, sometimes humans cross boundaries. It’s one of the “duties” of the artist to also explore these kind of truths and scenes of bestiality in art go a long way back for a reason. Can you enjoy/appreciate an artwork without being attracted to or identifying with the subject? Personally I have had this many times. Once I opened a book of Robert Mapplethorpe including very graphic pictures of SM homoerotic oriented content that at first glance (I am heterosexual) repelled me but I was drawn to it at the same time because it was so beautifully photographed (the tonal gradations were stunning). In an interview with the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke he told the interviewer about a real-life event of two young Spanish men who had taken inspiration from his movie Funny Games in which two young men take hostage and submit a family to some sadistic games and eventually kill them. These delinquents who had taken a man from the street and tortured him to death are indeed sickos who enjoy violence and used the artwork as inspiration for their heinous crime but should this movie therefore be banned? I think not. It’s all about the integrity of the artist and it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Btw the above Ozuma print with the kitten I assume you are referring to, is of the most innocent kind.
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