Art To Live For

Three amazing pieces by three extraordinary artists:

1)Toshio Saeki; The Early Works;  Editions Treville, 1997


2)Carlos Yamazaki; The Last Freak Show; All Misemono, 1997


3)Trevor Brown; Li'L Miss Sticky Kiss; Editions Treville, 2004

Sexy By Saeki

Three more from a true Modern Master.

Timothty Leary said of Saeki: "Toshio (Saeki), World Wide Wizard, weaves webs of designed dementia. (He is a) wise, gentle, precise, chaotic, erotic engineer."

At least once a week, I sit down for fifteen minutes and lose myself in these strikingly transgressive images.

They are a potent antidote to the blandness that surrounds us and attempts to engulf us.

The exquisite, off-kilter eroticism has a gentle, persuasive voice.

Suehiro Maruo's Grotesque Beauty

These stunning illustrations are from Maruo Graph EX 1 (Editions Treville; Pan-Exotica), a collection of work from Suehiro Maruo, the creator of Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show and Ultra Gash Inferno.

The artist's take on Werner Herzog's version of Nosferatu ('80), with Klaus Kinski , is an example of his many powerful reimaginings of popular cultural icons.

The book also features Maruo interpretations of Christopher Lee's Dracula, amongst others.

My apologies for the cropping of the left side of this image; I'm not prepared to destroy my copy of the book in order to scan it.

This plate is consistent with the artist's unique take on the world and his love of mundane/bizarre juxtapositions.

Maruo plumbs territory familiar to lovers of Toshio Saeki's work here. The theme of maidens inextricably and inexplicably drawn to grotesque beasts never ceases to ignite his imagination.

One of my favorite images of all time. Terribly sad. Terribly beautiful.

For a perfect introduction to the diversity of Maruo's oeuvre, this is the place to start.

The Erotic Engineer

Chimushi II (Editions Treville for Pan-Exotica, April 2003) is a stunning showcase of Toshio Saeki's more recent color work.

A recurring theme in Saeki's work is aberrant sexuality and the plight of those forced to come to terms with it.


I love the simplicity of this powerful image.

Common also are sex partners of advanced age, figures of authority, and syringes.

Saeki has no peer.

Timothy Leary calls him an "Erotic Engineer".

Who can disagree with that?