{"id":278,"date":"2025-06-25T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.boundless-art.com\/?p=278"},"modified":"2025-07-07T12:04:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T03:04:17","slug":"this-weeks-art-reads-manga-that-pull-back-the-curtain-on-the-art-world-vol-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.boundless-art.com\/?p=278","title":{"rendered":"This Week\u2019s Art Reads: Manga That Pull Back the Curtain on the Art World, Vol. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s called \u201cart\u201d isn\u2019t 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\u2019t always something we can grasp with feeling alone. Often, it resists easy understanding\u2014and without a key, we may find ourselves locked out. So in this series, each week we\u2019ll open the door a little wider, introducing books that offer new ways into the world of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s the middle of Japan\u2019s rainy season\u2014a time when colds are easy to catch and heading outside just doesn\u2019t appeal. So why not curl up with a good read at home? This time, we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25efBlue Period<\/strong> by Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Kodansha)<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cBlue Period Vol. 1\u201d (2017), by Tsubasa Yamaguchi, published by Kodansha. Source: Kodansha official website<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The protagonist, Yatora Yaguchi, is a high school student facing a rite of passage familiar to every Japanese teenager: university entrance exams. But what if that exam is for a top art school? Blue Period offers a gripping and detailed look at the intense world of art school admissions\u2014the emotional highs, the crushing self-doubt, and the physical demands of making art. It\u2019s a surprising mix of fine art and the grit and determination of classic sports manga, capturing the fierce dedication of students who throw themselves into the beautiful but unforgiving world of art. Written by Tsubasa Yamaguchi, a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, the series overflows with conviction, passion, and the raw sensitivity of those who truly believe in art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25efTokyo Higoro<\/strong> by Taiyo Matsumoto (Shogakukan)<\/p>\n\n\n

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 \u201cTokyo Higoro Vol. 1\u201d (2021), by Taiyo Matsumoto, published by Shogakukan. Source: Big Comic Original Extra Edition official website<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In France, manga is recognized as the \u201cninth art,\u201d following music, literature (especially poetry), theater, cinema, and media arts. In Japan as well, the Japan Art Academy\u2014an official body under the Agency for Cultural Affairs\u2014has formally recognized manga as a new field of artistic expression. Few today would challenge its rightful place among the arts. Tokyo Higoro is a remarkable work that cuts to the very core of this world. Created by Taiyo Matsumoto\u2014renowned for Tekkonkinkreet and Ping Pong\u2014this story follows Shiozawa, a manga editor who takes early retirement from a major publishing house. He sets out to create his ideal manga magazine, traveling to visit the artists he believes in and inviting them to contribute. That\u2019s all the story is on the surface. And yet, what emerges is a quiet, profound meditation on work, creativity, and friendship\u2014a beautiful “philosophy of making” that transcends the page. This isn\u2019t just a manga. It\u2019s a work of art that embodies the very aesthetics of drawing itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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