The art of Aquirax Uno
First Love Inferno (1968).
There’s very little web information available for Aquirax Uno, a Japanese artist active in the 1960s and 1970s who really ought to have a dedicated site. Much of his work seems to be poster art for cinema or product advertising, and, as usual on the web, what there is tends to get repeated a great deal. You can see more examples like these at Pink Tentacle, Ganymede Kids and Beautiful/Decay.
Keiko’s at Marubutsu Department Store (1967).
Previously on { feuilleton }
• Alice in Acidland
• Salomé posters
• Polish posters: Freedom on the Fence
• Kaleidoscope: the switched-on thriller
• The Robing of The Birds
• Franciszek Starowieyski, 1930–2009
• Dallamano’s Dorian Gray
• Czech film posters
• The poster art of Richard Amsel
• Bollywood posters
• Lussuria, Invidia, Superbia
• The poster art of Bob Peak
• A premonition of Premonition
• Metropolis posters
• Film noir posters
7 comments or trackbacks
#1 posted by cilla
Apr 14th, 2010
the amazing tara sinn has a fascinating interview with him here:
http://sylvestercreep.blogspot.com/2009/06/aquirax-uno-interview.html
#2 posted by Wiley
Apr 14th, 2010
I’ve always liked the way the Japanese take things thought to be more Western and doing them better; with more energy and creativity than many of the more well-known practitioners. Carrying the psychedelic theme into the realm of music, most of the more popular bands with a psychedelic sound could really stand to learn a thing or two from some of Japan’s answers to the medium like- Acid Mothers Temple.
#3 posted by Dave C
Apr 14th, 2010
Really interesting stuff. Reminds me of Aya Kato’s work.
#4 posted by lord cornelius plum
Apr 14th, 2010
And ripped off by the Black Crowes :
http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1951212
Japanese psychedelia is often interesting, even if (because of?) its cargo cult like status.You could draw paralells with British Psych too : both island nations steeped in history, both with imperial/military pasts ripe for sending up,both with vibrant pop cultures and both reinterpreting psychedelia through a distorting prism rather than copying American West Coast models.
I must say i love these pictures – id encountered Unos work before but not really looked into it – theres something really exciting about the Beardsleyesque linework. And they are so dark too – no love and peace here!
I know i always say this, but : SOMEONE SHOULD DO A BOOK !
I want to own it !
#5 posted by John
Apr 14th, 2010
Cilla: Thanks, I saw that interview linked on the Pink Tentacle page but her original blog had been deleted.
Lord Cornelius Plum: There is a book apparently: Aquirax Uno: Posters 1959–1975. I wouldn’t mind a copy as well.
#6 posted by lord cornelius plum
Apr 15th, 2010
Pity it would be so expensive to ship from Japan. One day perhaps……
#7 posted by John
Apr 15th, 2010
Yeah, it seems to be difficult to find elsewhere, there’s nothing listed on Abebooks, for example.