Artwork
Nihon Buyo
Nihon Buyo is a poster by Tadanori Yokoo. It dates from 1981 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Nihon Buyo is a poster from a 1981 series commemorating traditional Japanese performing arts events at UCLA. Designed by one of twelve prominent Japanese graphic artists under Masaru Katsumi's curation, it highlights a specific style of Japanese dance.
Subject & Meaning
The poster focuses on Nihon Buyo, a serene Japanese dance accompanied by the Shamisen. It represents two main forms: Kabuki dance, with dramatic movements influenced by Kabuki theatre, and Kamigata-mai, characterized by restrained, shuffling steps originating from the Kyoto and Osaka regions.
Technique & Style
While specific design details of the poster are not provided, the series was created by top Japanese graphic designers, suggesting a blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern graphic design principles prevalent in the 1980s.
History & Provenance
Designed in 1981 for the UCLA Asian Performing Arts Institute, the poster was part of events featuring the Classical Performing Arts Friendship Mission of Japan, who performed across the US over five weeks.
Context
The poster's creation coincided with a period of cultural exchange, promoting traditional Japanese arts in the United States through lectures, masterclasses, and performances at UCLA and nationwide.
Legacy
As part of a curated series, Nihon Buyo contributes to the documentation and promotion of traditional Japanese dance forms, potentially influencing the perception of Nihon Buyo in international cultural exchanges of the time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tadanori Yokoo is a Japanese graphic designer, illustrator, printmaker and painter. Yokoo's signature style of psychedelia and pastiche engages a wide span of modern visual and cultural phenomena from Japan and around the world.
