Ultra HD filming and spectacular close-ups reveal the extraordinary detail in the work of Katsushika Hokusai, a great name in Japanese art history. Now, you can discover his art and life presented on the big screen at Budapest’s Várkert Bazaar. In the documentary filmed across Japan, the United Kingdom and France, experts illustrate Hokusai’s wide-ranging influences and extraordinary legacy.
A significant representative of ukiyo-e painting – a genre of Japanese art characterized by illustrating topics spanning female beauty, Japanese folk tales and exotic landscapes – Hokusai is best known for his woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji that includes his iconic work, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, now a mass-market icon. This series of landscape prints Hokusai created in his seventies depicts the artist’s obsession, Mount Fuji, from different locations and in various seasons and weather conditions.
During his life, Hokusai painstakingly studied people, nature and even spiritual principles. While the painter suffered from some devastating conditions when he was struck by lightning at the age of 50, or had scarcely any money in his pocket, he considered only the best good enough in his art. His humble depiction of the Great Wave inspired acclaimed Western masters such as Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso and even an emoji that is now used in digital communication worldwide. Hokusai is also considered the founding father of the Japanese Manga comics.
The movie shows in English language with Hungarian subtitles, in the screening hall of Testőrpalota at the Várkert Bazaar. Tickets have already sold out for showings at 6pm on February 14th and February 28th, but not for 6pm on March 28th or 4pm on April 21st. Admission is 1,600 forints.
