Japan Art Revolution

A unique survey of the explosion of avant-garde art in 1960s Japan.

We've all heard of Paris 1968, but in Japan, a movement just as revolutionary, interesting and enduring was underway. The turbulent times of the post-war era inspired an artistic explosion in the country, with the emergence of a revolutionary scene of avant-garde artists who pioneered many disciplines: experimental and erotic photography, 'Angura' theatre and underground street performances, apocalyptic Butoh dance, surreal illustrations and seminal graphic design.

Taking design cues from Japanese luminaries Yokoo Tadanori and Awazu Kiyoshi, Japan Art Revolution features over 600 captivating artworks, encompassing photographs, film stills, theatre posters and illustrations by visionary artists including Moriyama Daido, Hosoe Eiko, Araki Nobuyoshi, Ishiuchi Miyako, Tanaami Keiichi, Yokoo Tadanori, Hijikata Tatsumi, Ohno Kazuo, Terayama Shuji, Tenjo, Sajiki, Kawada Kikuji, Neo-Dada Organizers, Hi-Red Center, Awazu Kiyoshi, Hanaga Mitsutoshi, Nakahira Takuma and Tanabe Santaro.

Drawing on extensive interviews with these iconic artists, this comprehensive book offers readers a nuanced understanding of the thriving world of Japanese avant-garde art, complemented by insightful texts from esteemed experts, curators, academics and archivists.

Japanese photobooks from this period are rare and expensive, so this book serves not only as a visual delight but also as an invaluable resource for scholars, art enthusiasts and those eager to discover the pioneers of Japanese avant garde.

About the Author

Amélie Ravalec is a London-based Parisian film director, producer and colourist. She directed her first documentary, Paris/Berlin: 20 Years of Underground Techno (2012) at the age of sixteen. She went on to direct films on avant-garde, underground and experimental art and music – Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers (2025), Japan Visions (2026), Art & Mind (2019), Industrial Soundtrack for the Urban Decay (2015). Her films have been shown at cinemas, festivals, museums and cultural institutions across fifty countries, and acquired by TV networks including ARTE, Sky Arts UK and ORF Austria. Her first work of narrative fiction, Sumarsólstöður (2025), expands her exploration of underground and avant-garde culture in a new cinematic form, and won ten awards at international festivals.