First Love Inferno (1968).
There’s very little web information available for Aquirax Uno, a Japanese artist active in the 1960s and 1970s who really ought to have a dedicated site. Much of his work seems to be poster art for cinema or product advertising, and, as usual on the web, what there is tends to get repeated a great deal. You can see more examples like these at Pink Tentacle, Ganymede Kids and Beautiful/Decay.
Keiko’s at Marubutsu Department Store (1967).
Previously on { feuilleton }
• Alice in Acidland
• Salomé posters
• Polish posters: Freedom on the Fence
• Kaleidoscope: the switched-on thriller
• The Robing of The Birds
• Franciszek Starowieyski, 1930–2009
• Dallamano’s Dorian Gray
• Czech film posters
• The poster art of Richard Amsel
• Bollywood posters
• Lussuria, Invidia, Superbia
• The poster art of Bob Peak
• A premonition of Premonition
• Metropolis posters
• Film noir posters
the amazing tara sinn has a fascinating interview with him here:
http://sylvestercreep.blogspot.com/2009/06/aquirax-uno-interview.html
I’ve always liked the way the Japanese take things thought to be more Western and doing them better; with more energy and creativity than many of the more well-known practitioners. Carrying the psychedelic theme into the realm of music, most of the more popular bands with a psychedelic sound could really stand to learn a thing or two from some of Japan’s answers to the medium like- Acid Mothers Temple.
Really interesting stuff. Reminds me of Aya Kato’s work.
And ripped off by the Black Crowes :
http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1951212
Japanese psychedelia is often interesting, even if (because of?) its cargo cult like status.You could draw paralells with British Psych too : both island nations steeped in history, both with imperial/military pasts ripe for sending up,both with vibrant pop cultures and both reinterpreting psychedelia through a distorting prism rather than copying American West Coast models.
I must say i love these pictures – id encountered Unos work before but not really looked into it – theres something really exciting about the Beardsleyesque linework. And they are so dark too – no love and peace here!
I know i always say this, but : SOMEONE SHOULD DO A BOOK !
I want to own it !
Cilla: Thanks, I saw that interview linked on the Pink Tentacle page but her original blog had been deleted.
Lord Cornelius Plum: There is a book apparently: Aquirax Uno: Posters 1959–1975. I wouldn’t mind a copy as well.
Pity it would be so expensive to ship from Japan. One day perhaps……
Yeah, it seems to be difficult to find elsewhere, there’s nothing listed on Abebooks, for example.