You might visit a museum and come home still wondering, “Why is this considered good?” or “What kind of value does this have?” – left with that lingering feeling of not really getting art.
One day, an artwork that seems impossible to understand is priced in the tens of millions; the next, you stumble upon a quiet, breathtaking piece in a tiny gallery tucked away on a city street – free to enter, open to all. Sometimes, what’s called “art” isn’t an object at all, but a project, an idea, something that stretches far beyond the frame. These moments remind us: behind every artwork lie layers of history and theory. The world of art isn’t always something we can grasp with feeling alone. Often, it resists easy understanding—and without a key, we may find ourselves locked out. So in this series, each week we’ll open the door a little wider, introducing books that offer new ways into the world of art.
It’s the middle of Japan’s rainy season—a time when colds are easy to catch and heading outside just doesn’t appeal. So why not curl up with a good read at home? This time, we’re featuring manga that dive into the world of art. From behind-the-scenes glimpses of the industry to the emotional struggles artists face, these stories are sure to ignite your creative spirit.
Gallery Fake by Fujihiko Hosono (Shogakukan)
A landmark of art-themed manga and a must-read. The story centers on Reiji Fujita, the owner of “Gallery Fake,” a gallery dealing in art forgeries. Packed with deep knowledge spanning art history, current affairs, and social issues from around the world, the series pulls readers in with its suspenseful, tightly woven narratives. Each episode is self-contained, making it perfect for quick reads—and remarkably, the series is still ongoing. A true classic that continues to define the genre.
In: The Graphic Novel by Will McPhail (Mariner Books)
This debut graphic novel comes from Will McPhail, the celebrated cartoonist and illustrator known for his work in The New Yorker. Though not yet available in Japanese, it has been steadily gaining attention—earning a nomination for the Eisner Award in 2022 and winning the Grand Prix of the ACBD Critics’ Prize in France in 2024. The story follows Nick, a young illustrator who struggles to connect with others and seems to mirror the author himself. As we trace Nick’s emotional turmoil and solitude, a shift begins to unfold within him. When it happens, the sudden explosion of color across the once-monochrome pages is deeply moving. It’s a poetic glimpse into the quiet beauty of illustration—a world shaped by solitude, emotion, and transformation.
