The paintings of Takato Yamamoto have a vicious beauty; their stunning detail is akin to the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the 18th century that initially influenced his work, but Yamamoto has developed his style into something he calls “heisei aestheticism.” He combines brutality with serenity in his paintings – blood and gore envisioned in intricate and delicate lines, with a graceful flow running through each scene. There is a vibrant sexuality in much of his work, but he also works in death and torture in the disturbingly erotic way that you expect from manga. Yamamoto’s work is available as high quality prints here, and you can also pick up books of his work. Step through the gates of the underworld and check out a gallery of his work below…
