Outsider Art from Japan

This carefully crafted publication is comprised of fifty biographies of Japanese artists. Collectively they have shown almost a thousand pieces of art in a Europe-wide touring exhibition. Outsider art is exceptionally expressive. The special artists communicate mainly via these pieces of art. They are not trained to be artists and have a mental illness or a mental handicap. Amongst others in this book is work by Marie Suzuki (1979); facinated by the human body, where breasts and genitalia dominate, she produces expressive paintings. Her work is mainly based on childhood memories; here, art is an unmissable form of expression. 'Outsider Art from Japan' also includes very impressive works by Shinichi Sawada (1982). In a detailed manner he makes earthenware statues that appear to look like friendly monsters. Sawada has a form of autism and hardly speaks; his main form of communication is via his art. Sawada has already sold some of his works of art in the United States.