Matsuyama Miyabi's "Neo-Ukiyo-e" Explores the Dark Side of Beauty
Miyabi Matsuyama's artwork captivates audiences with its allure, yet it conceals more somber narratives underneath. The female figures adorned in kimonos, set against floral and scenic backdrops, seem elegant at first glance but reveal a sense of discomfort upon deeper inspection. She characterizes her approach as "Neo-Ukiyo-e," blending the aesthetics of the Edo period with motifs of mortality, destiny, and dread. Her intricately posed characters feature blank, white eyes, symbolizing the blindness of humanity. Common themes in her art include ravens, skeletons, and blood, which enhance stories about the fragility of existence. Pieces such as The Last Supper and Dying Moon employ subdued colors to evoke nostalgia. Inspired by Junji Ito and horror films, Matsuyama seamlessly intertwines beauty with unsettling themes.
Key facts
- Matsuyama Miyabi defines her own visual language as "Neo-Ukiyo-e."
- Her female figures feature white, almost expressionless eyes that she metaphorically links to humanity's blindness.
- Recurring motifs include ravens, skeletons, blood, ghosts, moons and animals.
- Works in her archive include The Last Supper, Dying Moon, The Wandering Ghost, Bubbles and Faces.
- Her palette uses low, dusty tones: greys, beiges, blacks, dark reds, desaturated greens and deep blues.
- She has cited Junji Ito and Zdzisław Beksiński as declared influences, along with horror cinema and thrillers.
- She has said she was attracted to fear from childhood, particularly to reflection on death.
- Her research combines nihilism and existentialism, treating confrontation with the end as a way to see life differently.
Entities
Artists
- Matsuyama Miyabi
- Junji Ito
- Zdzisław Beksiński
- Aryz
- Francesco Faraci
- Aono Fumiaki
- Rik Oostenbroek
- Walt Disney
- Guim Tió Zarraluki
- Spok Brillor
- Gizem Akdag
- Guido Filosto
Institutions
- Westwing
- Crosby Studios
- Wu-Tang Clan
- Clarks
- Palermo Sound
- Collater.al
Locations
- Japan
- Edo
- Palermo
- Italy