Presenting the artistic visions of over 170 users from the Pixiv community, “Visions 2021” is a celebration of the popular art platform, while simultaneously being a showcase for the inventive, new wave of Japanese illustrators. As such, the themes and aesthetic within the book vary drastically, with the quality of submissions being the binding factor that makes the collection shine.
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For those unfamiliar, Pixiv is an online community created in 2007 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The site has amassed over 50 Million users, 100 million submissions and receives around 3.7 billion page hits a month. The focus of the community is a platform for art from around the world, though it is largely Japanese-centric in both userbase and aesthetic. The site is free, but premium allows for refined search tools to navigate the massive collection, such as ability to search by popularity. In addition, Pixiv offers both marketplace and “fanbox” services that allow creators to have their work commissioned or sold direct to the fanbase.
However, to the casual users of Pixiv, the site offers an endless source of artistic inspiration through its massive collection that can be browsed through a ‘tag' search engine. Furthermore, it has become a place to further explore artwork of favorite and upcoming mangas as many use Pixiv as a primary sources to share their work. This proximity to manga and visual storytelling makes the release of this book through prominent manga publisher Yen Press a suiting home for such an outstanding collection or art.
The edition itself is beautifully presented, with each featured artist getting a short bio, social media links and several of their pieces displayed. It even contains a QR code for quick access to their work, embracing the focus on community and growth that has made the platform so popular. It won't come as a shock that much of the art contained within features beautiful figured of men and woman, yet there are entries that take into account design and architecture as an essential part of Pixiv's use of landscape–reflecting the wonderfully diverse and eclectic aesthetic that make the page home to so many artists. In large print and over 350 pages of featured art, the release is an ideal ‘coffee table' book that can be picked up for random inspiration for artists, or random indulgences from admirers of Japanese art.
To highlight anyone artist in this collection would be counterintuitive, with the amount of talent on display ensuring everyone will come across with new admiration for different artists. However, looking at the work as a fan and constant browser of the platform, there is a lot of favorite pieces to revist and new creators to draw inspiration and awe from. Overall, the selection simultaneously represents the best on the platform and just a minute portion of the amazing creators the site play host too.
Included in the closing pages is a breakdown of how statistics are determining the future of Japanese art, a somewhat cold but extremely insightful way of looking at the evolution of art in the social space, and an interview with Shiego Koyama (designer and art director) and Mai Yoneyama (illustrator). Both of these segments add a lot of insight to the collection, the inner workings of the website, and the way we interact with art in the modern era–it is a welcome addition to the release.
The “Visions” collection is a meticulously presented and beautiful release that celebrate the new age of Japanese artist. Furthermore, it is a book that works as constant inspiration or celebration of art, fans of anime and manga will certainly spend a lot of time getting lost in the eclectic mix of talent on display here–easily one of the most beautiful books to add to your collection.
