Those futuristic Buddhist illustrations give the audiences a solemn feeling. Miho Sadogawa illustrated the Buddha (characters). The background was done by Itsuo Itoh, and Tei worked on the concept design and exhibition plan. Each member took charge of each work. Also, the direct mail covered with silver leaf on white embossed paper made by Taro Yamada was really impressive. The teamwork combined with the exhibition’s concept ‘Spiritual Manga Style’ is the result of the group’s world outlook.

I was wondering whether the digital style could be equal to the real space. After seeing this exhibition, I understood that those Buddhist illustrations made with digital tools were compatible with the constructive and minute line of Japanese-style painting and mandara in Asian culture. The Buddha illustrated in the manga style fascinated the audiences.

Tei talked about the idea in this exhibition, ‘You may have mixed feelings between design and fine art after seeing the illustrations. But I won’t stick to this style. I’m always working with a backpacker spirit’. I think Furi Furi learned their own way to bring both design and fine art together by this exhibition.

A few artists aside, the creators in these two different fields are work in a different way with each other, and they each have different fans. It is not too much to say that this presentation without any clients is a declaration of war by Furi Furi for all creators all over the world. Tei always talks laughingly but seriously, ‘there’s not only cute Furi Furi but also cool Furi Furi’.

The reception party with the fans of Furi Furi was a great success. Tei also tsaid he would pursue the possibility of such projects in the future.

Furi Furi will launch overseas with the works of ‘Spiritual Manga Style’. It’s really interesting to think how the audience overseas will react. Those works symbolize the Japanese of today and will tell you something.

Furi Furi Thangka
Date: November 2nd – 14th, 1999
Open: 11:00 – 19:00 (Last day till 17:00)
Place: Harajuku Gallery
Address: 306, 2-30-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81 (0)3 5414 5443
https://www.furifuri.com