The 1960s in Japan was a time of profound social change, marked by political unrest and student protests. This era inspired an artistic explosion, with the emergence of avant-garde artists who pioneered various disciplines, including experimental photography, underground theatre, apocalyptic dance, and surreal illustrations. The "Are, Bure, Boke" photography style, characterized by rough, dark, and out-of-focus images, was pioneered by Moriyama Daido and the Provoke magazine photographers. Other notable artists included Araki, who beautified bondage, Hosoe Eikoh, who sublimated the male body, and Ishiuchi Miyako, who captured her experience of American military bases. Kawada Kikuji's photobook "The Map" poignantly captured the trauma of Hiroshima.
Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers
A bold generation of avant-garde artists and photographers emerged in 1960s Japan, transforming the global art landscape amidst post-war social change and political turmoil.
