The British Museum in London is currently hosting a Manga exhibition in its Sainsbury Exhibition Gallery, which started earlier last week. The exhibition will be open until August 26, and for those lucky enough to be in the neighborhood, it’s definitely worth a visit. If you won’t be able to make it to London, fret not — YouTube channel Viz Media has captured the exhibition on video, giving you a virtual tour from the comfort of your home.
The exhibition is split into six main zones. The first zone, called "Understanding Manga," features the artistry behind drawing and producing manga, as well as how it is read and the symbols used. The zone also sheds light on manga editors and publishers. The second zone is titled "Power of Storytelling" and explores the visual storytelling aspect of manga. The zone contains a virtual Comic Takaoka, one of Japan’s oldest manga bookstores that still exists today. "Seen and Unseen Worlds," the third zone, showcases various manga genres, and the fourth zone looks into manga’s role in society, especially with cosplay and Comiket, a biannual dojinshi expo. The fifth zone holds a 70-meter-long wall full of massive original manga art, and the final zone highlights manga’s continuous evolution, pushing the boundaries of its more traditional form, as well as its international influence.
For those interested in the exhibition, admission is free for museum members. It’s also open to the public for £19.50 GBP (or roughly $25 USD) per adult ticket.
Elsewhere in the art world, the “CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History” exhibition is spotlighting 140 rare works from 60 acclaimed photographers in the music industry.
British Museum Sainsbury Exhibition Galleries
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury
London WC1B 3DG, UK