THE ARTIST

ANIME STRIKES! THE RISE AND BOOM OF CONTEMPORARY ANIMATED ART

二次元世界來襲 !! 當代動漫藝術中的價值性

Text / 李維屏 Apolline Li Photo / Ravenel International Art Group

疫情時代改變了人們的生活狀態，2021 年社群網站的網路聲量持續在成 長。而近年來在社群網路的推波助瀾下，藉著動畫與漫畫的靈感觸發，使新一 代藝術家得以展現截然不同的二次元藝術美學。提到動漫文化，就不得不提到 動漫迷對於宅文化的簡稱「ACG」，ACG 分別來自於動畫 (Animation)、漫畫 (Comics) 和遊戲 (Game) 而「二次元世界」則是用來形容只存在於 ACG 想像 空間的代名詞。動漫迷對於虛構角色的迷戀透過網路傳播的力量，其感染力量 非常強大，甚至不亞於現實世界的偶像崇拜。在西方藝術發展歷史的影響下， 普普藝術或通俗藝術於 60 年代爆發出影響力。美國藝術家羅伊·李奇登斯坦是 發起普普藝術運動的重要成員，堪稱上世紀的藝術巨擘，利用連環漫畫作為 及卡通人物如米老鼠、唐老鴨等作為他的創作表現方式。《Nude with Joyous Painting》於 2020 年紐約佳士得以天價四千六百萬美元售出，足見近年來對主 流藝術價值觀的影響。

從大眾媒體到美術館，三維度的超扁平

動漫文化的影響力已不僅限於年輕族群，而逐漸變成一種跨越族群的文化 語言。村上隆，第一個成功把日本次文化帶入當代藝術中的藝術家，他的名字 海內外家喻戶曉，甚至於 2010 年登上凡爾賽皇宮舉辦個展，當時所造成的美學 衝擊於藝術圈掀起轟動。因為具有日本畫背景，使他在創作時不僅僅是囿於高 彩度的普普藝術中，反而將傳統日本畫的流水、金箔、落款元素使用的淋漓盡 致。他從西方普普藝術、日本動漫卡通文化以及傳統浮世繪獲取靈感。2000 年 他對西方世界提出「超扁平」Superflat 的開創新概念，結合了傳統的浮世繪和 現代的卡通，將日本的流行文化和次文化元素放入自己的藝術創作中。「超扁 平」意思可以視印刷品或熒幕等媒介，亦即被稱為「二次元」的世界。

《蛋怪獸》中的蘑菇為是村上最喜歡的主題之一，與村上隆的大多 數蘑菇一樣，大膽豐富的顏色，以及身上覆蓋著許多圓圓的大眼睛，彷 彿可從各個角度看著觀察者，靈感來自於水木茂《鬼太郎》中的百目妖。 此作為三維空間中的二次元創作，將村上最標誌性的「超扁平美學」發 揮到極致，傳統與現代的精彩融合並豐富了藝術家最喜愛的一些回憶。 從美學上而言，「超扁平」是村上隆對日本繪畫在錯視效果方面的當代 詮釋，蘑菇系列在他自己心中代表著一種沉重的社會意義，也表達了他 對這個日益「扁平化」世界的不安。

◀ Super Future Kid《除草人》2020 壓克力 畫布140 x 130 cm Super Future Kid, Lawn Mower, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 140 x 130 cm ▲ Mr.《瑪琳娜; 星期四 （兩件一組）》2021 樹脂 限量 200 (星期四) 10(長) x 9(寬) x 27.5(高) cm (瑪琳娜)；8.5(長) x 8.5(寬) x 29(高) cm (星期四) Mr., Marina ; Thursday (a set of 2), 2021, Resin, limited edition of 200 (Thursday), 10(L) x 9(W) x 27.5(H) cm (Marina) 8.5(L) x 8.5(W) x 29(H) cm (Thursday) ▶ 村上隆《蛋怪獸》2002 不鏽鋼 玻璃纖維 漆 5/5 90(長) x 80(寬) x 185(高) cm (含底座) Takashi MURAKAMI, Peaked Cap, 2002, Fiberglass, steel, expoxy and paint, edition no. 5/5, 90(L) x 80(W) x 185(H) cm (with base) 重溫童年記憶，解放自己慾望的虛擬領域

「動漫的審美體驗是獨特的，它會打動你未泯的童心，激起你對童 年的美好回憶。」－村上隆

身為其首席弟子的 Mr. 更是把「御宅族」文化發揚光大的佼佼者。 Mr. 以誇張式御宅形式成為了拍賣市場焦點，有別於村上隆，Mr. 以繽 紛的色彩且充滿正向能量日本卡漫風格的人物造形，將內心的渴望與幻 想具體呈現於創作上。Mr. 的作品充分發揮了日本動漫的精神，特別是 其中蘿莉控和御宅族綺想。常見於動漫電玩中的「萌少女」以標誌性水 汪汪的大眼睛和纖細外貌成為日本次文化中不可捉摸之想像。

松本弘二郎、倉谷惠美皆為 Kaikai Kiki 藝廊所簽約的藝術家，漫 畫風格的作品，少女漫畫中可愛系畫風的人物造型讓人產生無限遐想的 療癒感。足見日本動漫於當代藝術家有著深刻的影響力，天野タケル自 小接觸藝術採用維納斯的形象，以日系漫畫的風格繪製，重新挑戰以個 人風格詮釋。卡通化的人物五官與大面積平塗，手繪比擬精密印刷的平 滑質感，獨樹一幟，個人辨識度極高。

近年來隨著收藏多樣化、藏家世代年輕化，許多當代藝術家與二代 藏家有著共同的語言。許多人對於動漫是一種充滿熱血的愛以及童年的 回憶，德國藝術家 Super Future Kid 的藝術以童年和青春期的概念為中 心，80、90 年代童年懷舊卡通般的圖像與具有深度的超現實作品相結 合。她使用充滿活力的色彩以遊戲和糖果等童年標誌為主題，使觀者能 夠在情感上與其連結，充滿青春的自由是一種超現實的現實。

二次元藝術把次文化重新包裝、翻譯成世人易懂的語言，而非刻版 印象中艱澀難懂的藝術語彙。從卡通人物得到靈感，創造出象徵著自我 投射的靈魂，不管是西方或東方藝術家，藉由不斷的自我提問，開展出 未來的藝術之路，發展出大眾普遍理解、讓人浸溺的作品。在虛擬裡建 構中，觀者的思想透過二次元的漫遊，於現實世界中讓意念有所棲所。 它已經遠遠超越了單純作為一種視覺媒介，二次元文化無處不在，而這 正是一股真正推動當代文化的動力。

As daily lives are transformed under the impact of the pandemic, the volume of social media has risen since 2021. Under such a

phenomenon and the influence of animation and manga, a new generation of artists started developing anime art. To understand this genre, one has to explore the Otaku culture and ACG, aka Animation, Comics and Game; and that anime art is a platform of imagination surrounding the concept of ACG. Enhanced by the global impact of social media, the passion of these fanatics spreads rapidly as one would expect in idol worship. Throughout the course of art history, pop art and subculture burgeoned in the 1960s. The key figure in pop art, US based artist Roy Lichtenstein used comics and cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in his artistic creation. Nude with Joyous Painting achieved a staggering US$46 million at Christie's New York in 2020. This created a giant ripple in the art market and valuation.

◀ 松本弘二郎《無題》2020 鉛筆 壓克力 畫布 42 x 30 cm MATSUMOTO Kojiro, Untitled, 2020, Pencil, acrylic on canvas, 42 x 30 cm ▶ 倉谷惠美《無題》2017 鉛筆 紙本 31.7 x 25.7 cm Emi KURAYA, Untitled, 2017, Pencil on paper, 31.7 x 25.7 cm ▼ 天野タケル《維納斯》2021 壓克力 畫布 160 x 130 cm Takeru AMANO, Venus, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 160 x 130 cm

From Mass Media to Art Museums: The Concept of Superflat Art

The anime subculture exceeds age restrictions and has transformed into a subculture. Takashi Murakami is the first artist to infuse Japanese subculture into contemporary art. His fame soars especially after the exhibition in Versailles in 2010, creating an iconoclastic impact to the art circle. The artist's nihonga practice enabled him to incorporate traditional nihonga rivers, gold leaf and inscriptions into highly polychromatic pop art. Traces of pop art, Japanese anime culture and traditional ukiyo-e could be found in his art. By 2000, the artist proposed the concept of Superflat: the merge of ukiyo-e, animation, Japanese mainstream and subcultures into his art. Superflat could be summarized as prints, animation or simply anime art.

Mushrooms in 《Peaked Cap》 is one of Murakami's favourite subjects with bold choice of colours and sporadic big eyes observing the audience from every angle. Such motifs were inspired by dodomeki from GeGeGe no Kitar by Shigeru Mizuki. Such flat composition is an iconic kitsche art of the artist, as he juxtaposes traditional concepts and contemporary depictions, encapsulating the delightful memories of the artist. Superflat is the artist's contemporary interpretation of Japanese art. The Mushroom series also carry a deeper implication and incongruous existence of such "flat" culture.

From Childhood Memories to Self-Indulgence in the Virtual World

"Anime is a unique experience that opens your child-like mind and recalls your delightful childhood memories." - Takashi Murakami

Mr. is considered to be the principal artist to promote art through the otaku culture. His highly vocal otaku representation allowed his works to be staged in the focal point in auctions. Unlike Murakami, Mr. uses flamboyant colours and positivity from Japanese cartoon figures to express individual desires and imaginations in his art. His works encapsulate the concept of anime, especially lolita and otaku cultures. Kawaii girls with large beady eyes and slender limbs are considered as the distant idealistic form of Japanese subculture. Kojiro Matsumoto and Emi Kuraya of Kaikai Kiki Gallery explore anime art and the desires aroused by kawaii girls. Also inspired by manga, Takeru Amano infused Japanese manga into the Venus motif as a unique depiction. Cartoon figures and flat silky paints that excels the refined printing articulated the uniqueness of her work.

In faced with a wider spectrum of art collection and a wider age group of collectors, contemporary artists and second generation collectors unified by a common language: their passion for manga and childhood memories. German-born artist Super Future Kid focuses her art on childhood and adolescence. Cartoon figures of the 80s and 90s come in sync with surrealistic representations, as she infuses vibrant colours, the concept of games and candies with childhood motifs, creating a unique bonding with the audience, expressing the freedom of youth in a surreal context.

Anime art transformed subcultures into a world language known by all, by lifting the barriers of incomprehensible visual languages. Cartoon characters inspire and inject one's identity beyond race and cultures. It connects the world with comprehensive and indulgent works of art. In this virtually constructed world, the audience are led through the world o f anime into an idealistic world. It reaches beyond visual representation, as an ubiquitous power of subcultures in a contemporary art movement.