Parallel Modernism: Koga Harue and Avant-Garde Art in Modern Japan

This book explores how watercolor, cubism, expressionism, and surrealism emerged and developed in Japan in ways that paralleled similar trends in the West, while also rejecting and diverging from them. It provides close readings of Koga Harue's major works and access to critical writing about modernism in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2019
Publisher: University of California Press

This extensive historical study reimagines modern art in Japan as a distinct and parallel branch of modernism, sharing visual similarities with Euro-American modernism but evolving according to its unique internal logic. By examining the art and ideas of renowned Japanese modern artist Koga Harue (1895–1933), Chinghsin Wu delves into the fascinating process by which watercolor, cubism, expressionism, and surrealism emerged and flourished in Japan, often following parallel trends in the West but also diverging and rejecting them. This groundbreaking English-language book on Koga Harue offers in-depth analyses of nearly all of the artist's major works, providing unprecedented access to critical writings about modernism in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s through primary source documentation, including translations of period art criticism, artist statements, letters, and journals.

The study highlights the significant influence of Western art movements on Japanese modern art, particularly during the early 20th century. Wu argues that Japanese artists, influenced by the avant-garde movements in Europe, sought to create a unique artistic language that reflected their own cultural and historical context. However, they also rejected some aspects of Western modernism, such as the emphasis on abstraction and the use of industrial materials.

Koga Harue, a prominent figure in Japanese modern art, is used as a case study to illustrate the development of these artistic trends. Wu analyzes the artist's works, including paintings, sculptures, and prints, and explores how they incorporated elements of Japanese traditional art, such as calligraphy and ink wash, alongside Western modernist techniques. The book also discusses the critical reception of Koga Harue's work during his lifetime and the impact of his artistic contributions on the development of Japanese modern art.

In addition to its scholarly value, this book offers a fresh perspective on Japanese modern art and its relationship to the broader world of modernism. It provides a wealth of primary source documentation, including translations of critical writings and artist statements, that allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the artistic movements and the cultural context in which they emerged. The book is also visually stunning, with numerous illustrations of Koga Harue's works and photographs of his studio and the surrounding landscape.

Overall, this is a groundbreaking work that will appeal to scholars and art enthusiasts alike. It offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of Japanese modern art and its place within the broader context of modernism.

Weight: 904g
Dimension: 187 x 262 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520299825