The Japanese illustrator Takuya Mitani (b. 1985) creates elegant pictures full of subtle eroticism that attract the attention of other acknowledged masters. Senju, whose works the Shunga Gallery followers highly appreciate and who's known as a true devotee of shunga, once left a positive reaction to Mitani's fantasy depiction of a cherry tree blossoming in the moonlight. We suppose our audience will enjoy the dive into Mitani's nihonga art as much as we do!
Fig. 1. Utopia Dreaming, 2019 (Instagram.com)
Fig. 2. What is it? (Instagram.com) Senju: Very nice works from this artist!
Fig. 3. Thunder Goddess, 2017 (Instagram.com)
Fig. 4. Instagram.com
Fig. 5. Instagram.com
Fig. 6. Instagram.com
Fig. 7. Instagram.com
Fig. 8. A lonely night where even distant thunder cannot reach (instagram.com)
Fig. 9. Studio on the Hill (twitter.com)
Beauty and the Beasts
Takuya Mitani graduated from Visual Arts College, Department of Broadcasting and Film, and initially worked as a video lighting assistant and technician. A slight homage to his profession connected with cinematography can be seen in his Studio on the Hill elaborating on the plot of the famous movie by Georges Méliès: "I drew a short story like when boys and girls went to return the moon from the top of a small hill with Moon people who had fallen to the ground." When he decided to devote himself to painting, his talent was recognized by the audience. In 2016, Mitani received a Special Jury Award at the Asian Imaginative Art Exhibition and, the following year, an Excellence Award at the Asian Imaginative Art Exhibition. The artist holds exhibitions at the art centers in Tokyo, where he now resides. Describing his art, Mitani says, "Many of the things I pursue, such as purity, elegance, and cuteness, are born from my daily fantasies. However, I cannot be content with pure "beauty" alone, and I deliberately try to include ugliness or things that make me fearful on the canvas."
Fig. 10. Liar Wolf, 2022 (Instagram.com)
Fig. 11. Like a Wolf, 2022 (Instagram.com)
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Click HERE for an article on Takato Yamamoto and his disturbingly beautiful Heisei estheticism
Sources: instagram.com/mitani.takuya/; ice99.com/art/5272933.html; gallerycomplex.com
What do you think about Mitani's nihonga sensuality? Leave your reaction in the comment box below...!!
