AKIRA

The Architecture of Neo Tokyo

AKIRA - The Architecture of Neo Tokyo presents the original background paintings from the animation of the science fiction classic in an unprecedented exhibition.

4 September 2022, 6 pm
Special closing event of the exhibition “AKIRA – the Architecture of Neo Tokyo”.

Since its release in 1988, AKIRA was largely responsible for the boom in Japanese animated films (anime) among international audiences in the early 1990s. For many viewers, AKIRA was the first film they perceived as anime - as a specifically Japanese animated film. As such, the film had a tremendous impact on an entire generation of film lovers. Much of AKIRA's cinematic power comes from its opulent depiction of the iconic film city of Neo Tokyo.

59 original production backgrounds, layout drawings, concept designs and image boards used to create Neo Tokyo in animated film will be on display. Exclusive access to the studio archives of the artists involved in the production of AKIRA allows for the presentation of artwork that has never before been shown in an exhibition. The exhibition includes works by Toshiharu Mizutani, who served as art director of the production, and his colleagues Katsufumi Hariu, Norihiro Hiraki, Shinji Kimura, Satoshi Kuroda, Hiromasa Ogura, Hiroshi Ōno, Hajime Soga, Tsutomu Uchida and Takashi Watabe.

The Tchoban Foundation - Museum of Architectural Drawing considers it its mission to bring the world of architectural drawing to a wider audience. Works of famous architects such as Peter Cook, Thom Mayne, Álvaro Siza or Lebbeus Woods have already been shown in profound exhibitions. In 2019, the exhibition German Film Architecture 1918-1933 presented the original scenography designs of Fritz Lang's films Metropolis (1927) and Die Nibelungen (1924), Paul Wegener's Golem, How it Came into the World (1920) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) by Robert Wiene. Last year, the museum presented original designs by Mark Fisher (1947-2013), which he created for famous entertainment shows and rock concerts. AKIRA - The Architecture of Neo Tokyo continues this series of programs.

The exhibition is curated by Stefan Riekeles, Managing Director of Riekeles Gallery in collaboration with Museum Director Nadejda Bartels. Hiroko Myokam of Eizo Workshop (Japan) acts as co-curator.

 

Christinenstraße 18 a, 10119 Berlin