Anno’s Journey @ Japan House

https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-Jj_pZfk5AIVT9HeCh1h6QJ2EAAYASAAEgI0IfD_BwE

This was rather like Japanese Enid Blyton in many ways. Both developed and produced for children with a huge nod to fairy tales, myths and fables. They are Tales and plots from everyday life with a twist or kink allowing the audience, in this case, me, to engage and conjure images in my mind, drawing on my memories and imagination go on an adventure and solve the mysteries on the way.

To the detriment of neither this exhibition shows Anno’s ability to move off the paper and I really enjoyed his shadow sculptures and other three dimensional work. The shadow work still retained a story and made me work my imagination in a new way, this was tame thoogh comapred to the thoudhts and images my mind made conections to as child when a shadow flicked across a wall or threw its self accross my path.

I think this is both Enid Blyton and Annos skill they knew their audience and crafted their work to produce enriching images and memories.

I must add I loved the bean bags and books placed at the center of the gallery. This allows you to read Anno’s books the way they were originally presented and published.