From its historical roots to the most recent digital innovations, Asian Comics: Evolution of An Artform looks to popular Japanese manga and beyond, highlighting key creators, characters, and publications. The exhibition explores thriving contemporary comic cultures and traditional graphic narrative art forms.

Discover renowned and influential creators such as Osamu Tezuka, Miyako Maki, Hur Young Man, and Lat, as well as genre innovators and underrepresented artists like Abhishek Singh and Miki Yamamoto. Witness how their work has impacted various forms of artistic expression, including cinema, animation, fashion, visual art, music, and video games.

Curated by Paul Gravett and a team of more than twenty international advisors, Asian Comics features an extensive collection of over 500 artworks, representing the largest selection of works from the Asian continent. This includes Japanese woodblock prints, Hindu scroll paintings, digital media, printed comics, and contemporary illustrations.

This unique exhibition serves as a gateway to an unexplored world of graphic storytelling, showcasing its artistic significance and cultural value.

Highlights:

• 280+ pages of original comic book artwork
• 116 high-quality reproductions
• 200 rare, printed comics
• Sculptural works, manga fashion, objects and artifacts
• Multimedia, augmented reality with gesture tracking

photos courtesy of Barbican Immersive - Video Walkthrough courtesy of Bowers Museum

Asian Comics: Evolution of An Artform was developed by Barbican Immersive in partnership with Paul Gravett and Thames and Hudson publishing. The international exhibition tour is supported by Flying Fish.