Project Detail

Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers

Synopsis

The 1960s era in Japan was a time of profound social change, political unrest and student protests. The turbulent times of the postwar era inspired an artistic explosion in Japan, 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.
A new aesthetic of photography was born: 'Are, Bure, Boke' (rough, dark and out of focus), pioneered by Moriyama Daid and the Provoke magazine photographers. Araki beautified bondage and Hosoe Eikoh sublimated the male body. Ishiuchi Miyako captured her experience of American military bases. Kawada Kikuji’s era-defining photobook 'The Map' captured the poignancy of Hiroshima’s trauma.
Master of underground theatre Terayama Shji produced countless magical, surreal and vividly colourful films, plays and photobooks, Yokoo Tadanori and Awazu Kioshi revolutionised graphic design with their incandescent theatre posters, Tanaami Keiichi, Japan’s answer to Andy Warhol, developed his unique kaleidoscopic vision of Pop-Art, and Butoh founders Hijikata Tatsumi and Ohno Kazuo impacted modern dance forever with their dance of darkness and light.

Details

Year
2025
Type of project
Features
Running time
100 min
Format
4K
Director
Amélie Ravalec
Producer
Circle Time Studio
Co-Producer
Maaserhit Honda
Editor
Amélie Ravalec
Sound
David Crane
Composer
Gregory Dombrowki
Principal cast
With contributions from: Araki Nobuyoshi, Moriyama Daido, Hosoe Eikoh, Ishiuchi Miyako, Tanaami Keiichi, Yokoo Tadanori, Mishima Yukio, Hijikata Tatsumi, Ohno Kazuo, Terayama Shuji, Tenj Sajiki, Kawada Kikuji, Neo-Dada Organizers, Hi-Red Center, Awazu Kiyoshi, Kaneko Ryichi,

Categories

Production Status

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Sumarsolstoður Sumarsolstoður

Director: Amélie Ravalec

Year: 2025

In a world where art and reality collide, Miho’s vivid dreams reveal the cosmic force of the Architecture, uniting her with artists across the globe in a desperate battle to heal the universe.

Art Sex Music Art Sex Music

Director: Caroline Catz

Year: 2026

A biographical documentary of the artist Cosey Fanni Tutti based on her best selling memoir.

One in a Million One in a Million

Director: Itab Azzam, Jack Macinnes

Year: 2026

A Syrian girl's decade-long journey to Germany and back, as she and her family face the challenges of war and life as refugees, showing both the hardships and hopes of starting anew. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere