This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1971 for Kodansha’s “art now / 現代の美術” series, designed by the trailblazing graphic artist Kiyoshi Awazu.
Artist background
A leading light of postwar Japanese design, Awazu fused folk motifs, political poster punch, and psychedelic pop color into a fiercely original style. He worked across media—from posters and book jackets to film titles and public art—leaving an indelible mark on Japanese visual culture.
Poster design
A dazzling, tactile psychedelic mandala: concentric rainbow bands ripple like topographic rings around a sculpted striped mask that seems to bulge from the surface. Multicolored sea turtles swim through a yellow border teeming with glyphs and talismans, while a small cartouche at the base reads “1971.8 KAWAZU” (printed within a striped, shrine-like motif). The lower-left badge carries the series mark “art now / 現代の美術 全12巻・別巻1 講談社版.” Awazu’s dense patterning, fluorescent palette, and collage relief produce a hypnotic, museum-grade poster.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photos; they show the exact poster for sale.
This poster is an original Japanese B2 from 1971.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 53 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
H38
