Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures Author Public Artwork Unveiled In Osaka’s WARP Project!
The Osaka station WARP announcement ceremony was held on July 29.
Taking part in Osaka’s WARP project, the author of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures unveiled his public art in contribution to the project.
The West Art Project, a.k.a. WARP, is a project to exhibit artworks in the area on the west side of Osaka station. This unique initiative aims to provide those passing through Osaka station.
Hirohiko Araki took the stage at the “Osaka Station West Area Art Project WARP Announcement Ceremony” held on July 29, at Osaka Station in Osaka, Japan.
During the unveiling event, Araki’s stained glass windows were revealed, captivating the audience with their intricate design.
The theme of Araki’s work is “Fountain Boy,” a nod to a statue that was a symbol of Osaka Station for 103 years.
“There used to be a statue of the ‘Fountain Boy’ in Osaka Station, but it is now in a museum,” Araki explained.
“I was attracted to the idea of reviving and revitalizing something that was once a symbol in a new form.
As a manga artist, I don’t get many opportunities to work on public works, so I wanted to contribute to the project and did my best to draw the statue.”
Araki’s design incorporates stands such as Star Platinum and Killer Queen from his iconic JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. “The stands in my works represent the power of nature, which is invisible, in the form of a painting,” Araki said.
“In this case, I thought that stands were absolutely necessary in expressing the fountain, so I included seven of them in the work. The reason I chose stands with strong power is because I wanted to give power to those who pass by this work. It’s power for healing, hope, and good luck.”
Creating this artwork presented unique challenges for Araki. “Manga is drawn on square paper, but this time I had to create it in a circular form, and it was difficult to think about the layout of the composition,” he admitted.
Despite these challenges, Araki’s dedication and artistic vision have resulted in a piece that blends traditional symbolism with contemporary artistry.
Kazuaki Hasegawa, President of West Japan Railway Company, praised Araki’s contribution, stating that his global influence and ability to merge historical elements with modern themes made him the perfect choice for the project.
“We are exhibiting six artworks, all of which have been created by the artists with their hearts and souls. I hope this exhibition will be an opportunity for visitors to explore the city of Umeda while viewing the works of art,” Hasegawa added.
About Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure:
The anime series is an adaptation of Hirohiko Araki’s Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure manga, which originally began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in 1987,
In 2005, it was transferred to Monthly Ultra Jump Magazine.
The manga is Shueisha’s largest ongoing manga series in volume count. It will have a total of 131 individual volumes released in 2021.
The manga has been adapted into anime, with the latest being season 6, starring Jolyne.
The first season started airing on November 19, 1993, and ended on November 18, 1994, on APPP with only six chapters. The season covers the third part of the manga.
The adaptation of the first part of the manga, titled JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Phantom Blood, aired from October 6, 2012, to April 6, 2013. The anime was made by David Production and has 26 episodes.
MAL Describes Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, Stardust Crusaders:
Years after an ancient evil was salvaged from the depths of the sea, Joutarou Kuujou sits peacefully within a Japanese jail cell.
He’s committed no crime yet demands he not be released, believing he’s been possessed by an evil spirit capable of harming those around him.
Concerned for her son, Holy Kuujou asks her father, Joseph Joestar, to convince Joutarou to leave the prison.
Joseph informs his grandson that the “evil spirit” is in fact something called a “stand,” the physical manifestation of one’s fighting spirit, which can adopt a variety of deadly forms.
After a fiery brawl with Joseph’s friend Muhammad Avdol, Joutarou is forced out of his cell and begins learning how to control the power of his stand.
However, when a Stand awakens within Holy and threatens to consume her in 50 days, Joutarou, his grandfather, and their allies must seek out and destroy the immortal vampire responsible for her condition.
They must travel halfway across the world to Cairo, Egypt, and, along the way, do battle with ferocious Stand users set on thwarting them.
If Joutarou and his allies fail in their mission, humanity is destined for a grim fate.
Source: Comic Natalie
