Description
From Ukiyo-e Project: "The Kimono pattern comes from Ako Roshi (47 Ronin) - a true story from the 18th century of exemplary bushido or the "way of the samurai," which has since been adapted into a popular kabuki play. The subtle sparkle in the light grey lines of their kimonos was achieved by infusing mica into the ink, added in respect to KISS's costume aesthetics. The colors underneath the chainmail were chosen to reflect each member's character, while the lighter color make-up was inspired by the kabuki theater's traditional kumadori make-up." (Credits: 2015 KISS catalog, Ltd. Under License to Epic Rights, Ukiyo-e Project)
About the artist
With offices in LA and in Tokyo, UKIYO-E PROJECT is a contemporary ukiyo-e publisher founded by Yuka Mitsui in 2014 to keep ukiyo-e craftsmanship thriving by creating a new market for their traditional skills. As the words “ukiyo” and “e” mean “present” and “image” respectively, ukiyo-e naturally depicted popular trends and cultures of their times. Staying true to this philosophy, UKIYO-E PROJECT immortalizes iconic stars and landscapes of today through traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which continue to receive extensive press and have been acquired by international institutions such as the British Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna (MAK), and the Miami University Libraries.