Transcending the boundaries of each individual medium to realize unparalleled artistic expressions, Japanese manga, anime, and games are reflective of social change and technological development. They also present us with an expanded version of reality and a window on the future. Moreover, the characters that appear in these works have the ability to move beyond their fictional realms and become an actual presence in our daily lives.
Since noted manga and anime artist Tezuka Osamu died in 1989, Japan has suffered several earthquakes and terrorist attacks. At the same time, we have benefitted from a variety of technological advances such as the popularization of the Internet and smart phones – developments that have drastically altered our lifestyles and consciousness. Exposure to contemporary manga, anime, and games can also help us gain insight into many and diverse aspects of Japanese society.
Focusing on the 25-year period from 1989 to the present, this unprecedented exhibition presents a comprehensive survey of Japanese manga, anime, and games – three genres that have evolved into an integrated form of media expression – and provides viewers with an opportunity to rediscover their imaginations and creativity.
![Masterpiece [Re]discovery 2022. Photo: Ben Fisher Photography, courtesy of Masterpiece London](http://www.apollo-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MPL2022_4263.jpg)
Suzanne Valadon’s shifting gaze