japanese artists like animals

What Yoshimoto Nara, Nagi Noda, Noboru Tsubaki and Hiroshi Kobayashi have in common? They all take animals as the subject of their works. And there wouldn't be anything unusual about it since one of the first visual image was that of animal but in Japan the list of artist depicting animals is very long ...

Yoshimoto Nara, Aomori-ken dog

Born 1959 in Hirosaki, Nara is one of the most influential artists of Japan's Pop art movement. His work is influenced by manga (Japanese comic books) but unlike typically cute manga images Nara infuses his works with horror-like imagery.

Nagi Noda, Vivre, poster, 2004

Born 1973 in Tokyo, artist, designer and commercial director whose works include popular character Hanpanda, a half-panda-and-half-something-else, animal hair hats and be@rbrick.

Noboru Tsubaki, Tetsuo, 2003

Born 1953 in Tokyo, Tsubaki once a minimalist artist after witnessing a devastating earthquake in Japan in 1996 has been using his artwork to propose solutions to the world's problems. His works like a large five-legged robotic vehicle designed to clear land mines takes a childish approach to deal with serious issues.

Hiroshi Kobayashi, Challenging spirit, acrylic on canvas, 2002-2003

Born 1967 in Fukushima, artist developed his own unique style inspired by ukiyo-e. Kobayashi takes a digital photographs of stuffed animals, manipulates them in Photoshop and then paints the images by pouring glossy fluid acrylic paints onto canvas.