Simon Clayton’s latest series of paintings are an homage to the early work of legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka. Individual pages and cells from the 1947 graphic novel Shin Takarajima have been represented at a large scale and in colour for the first time. Each work is an original acrylic on canvas.

Background      

Japanese cartoonist and animator Osamu Tezuka (1928 – 1989), is considered the ‘father of manga’ and ‘Godfather of anime’. He is best known as the creator of iconic animation classics Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. Following World War II at the age of 17, Tezuka created his first graphic novel Diary of Ma-chan. This was soon followed by Shin Takarajima (New Treasure Island), which was first published in 1947. Shin Takarajima was inspired by and is loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Produced when Tezuka was only 19, this graphic novel is a significant example of his early work as a developing manga artist.

CURRENTLY AT ARTBOY GALLERY, 99 GREVILLE ST PRAHRAN, MELBOURNE     www.artboygallery.com