Yoshitaka Amano
THE EXHIBITION
The largest official Western exhibition celebrating 50 years of art by the visionary master from Shizuoka.
Over 130 works from his Tokyo studios will tell the story of animation and entertainment worldwide.
From Tatsunoko to Final Fantasy, to Vogue; a journey made of pure visual and narrative art that brings different generations in one place.
A scenographic set-up in four sections, enriched by objects and films, will take you on a discovery of techniques, visions, forms and iconic works that are imprinted in the collective imagination.
Yoshitaka Amano
Creator of contemporary mythologies, a bridge between traditional Eastern and 20th century European Art.
Yoshitaka Amano has carved out for himself a unique place in the contemporary art scene.
Amano’s works can be found in the pages of a manga, in the animation of a cartoon, but also in the world’s most important art galleries, always exhibiting the fantasy and ethereal features that have distinguished 50 years of production.
His drawings have entered the homes of billions of people around the world in the form of graphic novels such as Vampire Hunter D and The Sandman, visuals for major brands such as Vogue and DC Comics, iconic video games such as Final Fantasy, anime and animated films that the 70s and 80s generations grew up with, such as Gatchaman, Pinocchio, Hurricane Polymar, Yatterman and Time Bokan, but also as theatre sets and book illustrations.
SOME WORKS
“I CANNOT REMEMBER A SINGLE MOMENT IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS NOT DRAWING”
Yoshitaka Amano
The exhibition’s sections
THE BOY FROM SHIZUOKA
The first room of the exhibition is a journey through time that transports us to Amano’s years in Tatsunoko (1967-1982), the legendary Japanese animation studio that contributed to the birth of iconic cartoons that were broadcast worldwide. This section presents drawings and animation cels related to productions that have entered the lives of millions such as Hurricane Polymar, Gatchaman, Tekkaman, Pinocchio, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee, Time Bokan and many others. A dive into the origins of the Shizuoka artist to understand the cultural roots and work environment that have made him one of the masters of contemporary art.
THE ORIGINS OF THE MYTH
In the early 1980s, Amano began an ebullient independent career that already featured many of the artistic traits that would characterise his future work. In these years he illustrated hundreds of book covers, and made his debut with a monthly strip in the fantasy magazine S-F Magazine; above all, he reached his first international successes with the plates he created for Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D and with the strong visual experimentation of the animated film Angel's Egg made with Mamoru Oshii. The works exhibited in this section represent the ‘blueprints’ of the subsequent production that will consecrate him worldwide.
ICONS
This section focuses on Yoshitaka Amano's most representative and influential works at the intersection with Western pop culture. Visitors will find the original illustrations of the graphic novel Sandman: The Dream Hunters, published in 1999 in collaboration with Neil Gaiman, as well as the alternative covers created for iconic American comic book characters such as Batman, Batgirls, Superman, Harley Quinn, Elektra and Wolverine and many others. The aim is to show the evolution of his style and his consolidation as a world-renowned artist, thanks also to prestigious collaborations, from Vogue Italia to Magic: The Gathering for which he illustrated Liliana's card.
GAME MASTER
For the first time in the world, all the original acrylic paintings on paper by Yoshitaka Amano for the series that changed the role-playing game genre forever. A long excursus with plates covering almost forty years of the Square Enix masterpiece, from the first chapter in 1987 to Final Fantasy XVI. The parallel between the final packaging and the original design makes it possible to retrace the evolution of the logos and cover images, and to admire the numerous iconic characters of the saga born from the vision of the Japanese master. In the section you can also discover other video games Amano worked on besides Final Fantasy.
FREE SPIRIT
This section celebrates Yoshitaka Amano's metamorphosis from character designer and illustrator to globally recognised master of fine arts. This section retraces his artistic journey from his early illustrations in S-F Magazine to his most recent works exhibited in international museums and galleries, highlighting his continuous evolution and the various influences that have shaped his style. Some of the works exhibited are of considerable size (7x4 metres).TICKETS
CONCESSIONS
All documents entitling to a price reduction or a free gift will be checked by the staff
€12.00 Reduced ticket
Groups (see Art. 2.24)
Visitors aged 6 to 26 and over 65
ATM subscribers
€6.00 Special reduced ticket
1 carer per person with disabilites
Groups of students of all levels
Teachers
Employees of the Municipality of Milan with nominal badge (one guest per person only)
Journalists with badge
Coop Culture employees
Civil Service Volunteers working for the Municipality of Milan
Fabbrica del Vapore employees
National Fire Brigade employees
ATM employees
Abbonamento Musei Lombardia and Milan holders
Museum Card holders
€10,00 Family Ticket (adult)
€5.00 Family Ticket (children)
1 or 2 adults + children 6 to 14 years old
Free ticket
Persons with disabilities
Children under 6 years
Qualified tour guides
1 tour leader per group
2 tour leaders per school group
Journalists accredited by the Municipality and Exhibition Press Office
ICOM members
Employees of the Special Projects Unit and Fabbrica del Vapore
Presale
€2,00 at venue and online
€1,00 Schools
Booking service for groups of 25 people max. including guide
Events
DESIGN JUSTICE: TALES OF EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
12th December 19.00 – 21.00
Fabbrica del vapore, Sala Workshop
An opportunity to discover the potential of design asa tool for inclusivity: save the date for the second event by POLI.design and Lucca Comics and Games dedicated to the Design Justice movement.
The voices of those on the margins of society serve as the starting point for a creative process aimed at generating solutions that promote equity and accessibility. Through The stand-up style monologue“Formidabili” by Andrea Bellati, we’llexplorethe stories of extraordinaryindividualswhohaveturnedtheirconstraintsintodistinctivestrengths. Following the monologue, a discussion moderated by Alessandro Biamonti (Designer and Professor at Politecnico di Milano) will feature Bellati and Laura Galluzzo (Interior Designer & Professor at Politecnico di Milano) examining the capacity of design to dismantle systemic inequalities and build a fairer world.
Don’t miss our Design Talk on Thursday, December12!
https://form.jotform.com/243006608045348
Upcoming events
BEYOND THE EXHIBITION
Workshops, talks and artistic challenges with internationally renowned illustrators, animators, designers and fashion designers will animate the exhibition of the Master of Shizuoka during its 100 days at the Fabbrica del Vapore in Milan. But that’s not all: influencers, super fans and communication experts will bring debates and discussions on the current issues related to design, image and society.
The unique Bookshop within the exhibition will contain art material, catalogues, prints and much more!
MILAN
An international crossroads of Design, Fashion, Art and Entertainment, a bridge between the visual arts and a space that celebrates creativity.
Home of the prestigious Poli.Design by Politecnico di Milano.
LUCCA COMICS & GAMES
An entirely new concept for Lucca Comics & Games.
Europe’s most important event dedicated to comics, games, video games and entertainment brings the art of the great Master outside the city walls of Lucca.
It does so in style, with an artist who is both unique and multifaceted.
Epic images of contemporary mythological figures and pure elegance mark out ‘the boy from Shizuoka’ in the Olympus of contemporary artists of entertainment.