Yoshitaka Amano - anime, illustration and characters

Deva Loka II, 2010, automotive on aluminum, 100 x 300 cm (triptych)

Yoshitaka Amano is the Japanese illustrator and designer possibly most famous for creating the characters in Final Fantasy. His work - highly elaborate, colourful, sexy - has been very influential on anime artists. And when I first saw it, I hated it(!)

But then I saw it in person in a gallery… and was blown away. The pieces are painted using automative paint (i.e. car paint) on aluminium: they have a rich, glossy, shininess and a physical depth to the surface which is surprising and luscious. The scale of these pieces was also impressive, with some 3m long.

Eve, 2019, Automotive paint on aluminum, 150 x 300 x 10 cm

(left to right)

Vanity, 2020, auto paint on alum, 70 cm diameter                              

Dream in blue, 2020, auto paint on alum, 70 cm diameter                   

Flower Power, 2020, auto paint on alum, 50 x 50 x 10 cm

All images from: https://mailchi.mp/artstatements/introducing-the-fascinating-contemporary-ceramics-of-srabani-ghoshl-979997?e=c1c74cd186

For more, see:

http://www.artnet.com/artists/yoshitaka-amano/

https://www.yoshitakaamano.com/

From left to right:

White Tiger, 2013, auto paint/alum, 60 x 70 x 5 cm                       

Silver Phoenix, 2020, silver leaves and ink/wood, 43 x 53 cm     

Golden Dream, 2020, gold leaves and ink/wood, 43 x 53 cm