Recently a unapologetically philistine reader left a comment saying he much prefered the world of finance to the subject of art history. Robin Williams’ character in “Dead Poets Society” has a speech about that kind of thing.
But here’s some art I think all of us can appreciate: the work of Japanese illustrator Akira Sorimachi and his big-nosed characters.
You’ll see some trad elements in his work; the others were chosen merely for aesthetic pleasure. Enjoy, and at the bottom of this post you’ll get to meet the man, so to speak.
And here’s the artist himself — a member of the pinned-club club — in a brief video for GQ Japan. — CC
Great illustrations!
Looks like a lot of darting…
Anyone catch Brit Hume tonight on FNC? OCBD, club tie, soft shoulder tweed, the works.
Hillary, Bernie, darts…
I know, it’s an imperfect world.
Which is why in the text I wrote please just appreciate these for their aesthetic quality, not their darted ideology.
Those are wonderful. They remind me a lot of the old U.P.A. animated short movies. Now I have a new book of illustrations to buy!
Honestly, Christian, the segue from philistine to big-nosed characters is wafer-thin, at best, even with conjuring up Robin Williams. Nevertheless, I always do try to act in the spirit of “carpe diem.”
Proud, profitable, proboscis-possessing, pound-loving, and penny-saving Philistine that I am, I can certainly appreciate this art. Fortunately, I don’t have to think too far back in history (that would take too much time away from making the pesos). I would hope I look as good as some of these illustrations – even with the darts.
Now, each time I put on a recently purchased J Press shirt, tie, or jacket, I think if it weren’t for the Japanese men embracing this style, I might not be putting on this J Press shirt, tie, or jacket. Well, maybe not quite, but we do have to give a nod to the Japanese for keeping this style sufficiently profitable for investors to invest in. Even art needs the money. If it were left to the Americans, we’d soon be forced to buy the latest incarnation of the ‘must-have’ no-iron offering from BB. How do you say “yuk” in Japanese?
It was hardly a stretch to go from philistinism to a post about an artist. If you have a large nose, I was unaware of it.
@ Ward W
And may one, perhaps, be so bold as to add alliteration-adoring?
Works that would have been perfectly at home in the New Yorker of 60s-70s. I love this stuff…all of it: Eames, mid-century modern, googie, Eichler, space age…all of it. And, these images, too. Thanks for sharing, CC.
Bags’,
I love la literations!
Christian,
There are probably big nose detecting software apps you can add to your website to detect us minorities, you know. In any event, there should have been big nose trigger warnings promenately displayed at the top of the post. I consider this a micro aggression and am going to get all my student friends to picket and protest. We have signs and placards: Big Nose People are People, Too! And, You Kow What They Say About Guys With Big Noses … Well, It’s True!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToYt5SgGDgI
Thank you for sharing this – fantastic style (exaggerated proportions and all), and appealing ensembles.
Available for purchase here: https://www.drakes.com/prints
I adore these. Echoes of Ronald Searle and Don Madden here. Terrific, whimsical work.