Japan As Seen by Illustrator Shohei Otomo
Aggressive schoolgirls, geishas with designs adorning their faces and police officers doing drugs: welcome to the world of Shohei Otomo.
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Defined by his sociological vision of art, both tender and brutal, Shohei Otomo seeks to convey a different image of his country, one that is less polished than it may appear. Having graduated from Tama Art University in oil painting, he quickly abandoned this technique in favour of a simple ballpoint pen. By adopting his own style, he managed to step out of the shadows of his father, manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo and creator of the cult manga series Akira, and carve out his own career.
Over the years, the artist, born in 1980, has honed his technique and seen his work exhibited the world over, from Australia to France and Mexico. Shohei feels that his work is not needed in Japan, because the reality he tries to transcribe is what they experience on a daily basis.
Shohei Otomo’s creations can be found on his website and Instagram account.
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