KAMISAKA SEKKA

　　This lavishly illustrated book brings to light the diversework and the growing influence of this early 20th‐century Japaneseartist and designer. Kamisaka Sekka (1866–1942), little known untilrecent years, is being reappreciated and influencing a newgeneration of artists and designers in Japan and beyond. Throughover 200 illustrations discover the work of Kamisaka Sekka as wellas early Rinpa masters and contemporary artist such as YamaguchiAi, Yamamoto Taró, Sydney‐ased fashion designer Akira Isogawa andKyoto-based textile artists Kenzo and Hiromu Takao. Sekka wasawakened to an ancient and truly Japanese aesthetic through histravels in Europe where he saw the art nouveau style as well as theinfluence of Japonisme on European art. The aesthetic he revived isthe art of Rinpa which was practised in Japan in late 16th andearly 17th centuries when Kyoto was the country’s capital andcultural centre. Sekka sought to revive the courtly beauty of oldKyoto through his transmission of the Rinpa style into the modernindustrial and consumer age, forging a unique visual language.Drawing on subjects such as birds, flowers and classical narrativescrolls, he created sumptuous, refined works not only in paintingbut also textiles, lacquerware, ceramics, furnishings, architectureand garden design. Blurring the boundary between art and craft,Sekka aimed to imbue all objects in our daily lives with anaesthetic quality.