“The ultimate collection of pixiv artists is back! The 2022 compilation features 170 of some of the greatest creators on the platform who have all made an impact on the artistic field. With an abundance of styles from retro-inspired to modern and beyond, there's something for everyone to love!” (Yen Press)
Pixiv is known predominantly for artists showcasing their work and has developed into an open social-media platform that draws much of the top talent in Japan. The site hosts already-established creators, including published mangakas, alongside burgeoning talents and fans drawing art that pays homage to their favorite series/characters. Consequently, Pixiv works as a way to both share and celebrate all manner of artistic expression across various styles.
This is the second year that Yen Press has published the Visions art book, with the 2021 entry being the inaugural collection. The first volume served as a yearbook of sorts or a ‘best of the year,' presenting 100+ creators whose art exemplified the best the platform has on offer. Fans who collected the first release will be pleased to know that the format remains the same, including displaying the writer's details and links accompanied by several pieces of their artwork. Furthermore, the book contains QR codes that lead directly to the artist, a feature that makes it possible to spend hours involved in the book jumping between art that catches the reader's eye and exploring their profile further online.
Check the review of the 2021 collection
The book is an accumulation of the community's commitment to helping artists develop in a commercial space, as it serves to introduce them to a wider audience. This also covers the spectrum of the type of art on the site, sharing diverse styles and with different applications. There is anything from kawaii to kowai, cartoonish to hyper-realism, and everything in between. Undeniably, certain creators will appeal to different aesthetics of the reader, but the quality of the work is the binding factor that makes the release alluring to collect.
For example, two of my favorite artists featured in this year's book (one of which I was following on the site previously) are “Gigigigagaga” and “Nozaki“. The first crafts nightmarish landscapes with daunting Lovecraftian creatures looming in the background, while the second places cute ladybugs in picturesque settings. Polar opposites in approach, both talented creators find a deserved spot in the book and encapsulate the range of aesthetics you can stumble upon when browsing the site.
The only content that seems slightly amiss is dealing with abstract artists or surrealists. This is one of my personal favorite corners of pixiv, yet, given the limited appeal of work that is highly subjective to the observer, it makes sense these types of artists are omitted from the selection. Regardless, the variety in the book is impressive and the selection seems very considered in both presentation and layout.
The “Visions” artbook serves as both a source of inspiration for creative types as well as eye candy for admirers of art, particularly of the Japanese aesthetic. It is a release that can be casually browsed or dug deep via the accompanying bios and links, which imbues the book with an abundance of value with how enticing it is to pick up and go through. Furthermore, the release is of high-quality print and hefty size which makes it ideal for those who love utilizing ‘coffee table books' as part of their decor. If any of those notions appeal to you, the “Visions” artbook will be a welcome addition to your collection.
You can browse the complete list of artists included in the book with links to their pages here. If interested in any artist from the book or links, you can also check out their ‘Fanbox', a feature on pixiv that allows the creators to get direct support from fans as well as sell art or merchandise.
