Pop artist Chiho Aoshima combines the aesthetics of shōjo, a genre of Japanese manga geared toward young women, and the superflat style—a colorful, bold, flattened graphic movement founded by Takashi Murakami (whose Kaikai Kiki Collective includes Aoshima as a member). Aoshima synthesizes these more contemporary artistic influences with traditional ukiyo-e compositions, especially Hokusai’s representations of yōkai, supernatural spirits, which are a clear visual antecedent to the serpentine figures haunting the lower-left corner of this print.

Offset lithograph.

Edward S. Morse Memorial Fund. ©2003 Chiho Aoshima/Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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