Junko Mizuno

About

Junko Mizuno made her debut as a manga artist in a rock magazine, H.. Mizuno's unique, instantly identifiable style actually derives in part from the golden age of shôjo manga of the '70s and Hideo Azuma's Lolita-type drawings. Like the characters she draws, Mizuno herself is petite and cute!

Junko Mizuno is one of most popular artists working in Japan today. Her drawing fuses the ubiquitous kawaii (the cult of excessive, mind-numbing cuteness that reigns in Japan: think Hello Kitty) with sinister plots. Nudity is common throughout her work.

Viewing Junko Mizuno’s work is like getting your ass kicked five different ways. At first you think it’s fuzzy and adorable, kind of like Precious Moments meets typical anime mascot cuteness- then you notice the blood, the nudity, the black magic. Junko’s girls don’t just pull at your heart-strings, they pull out your guts. This is what would happen if all those cute, mute icons that little girls are supposed to love and emulate suddenly woke up and went on a murderous, self-empowered rampage. Realizing their sexuality, their physical power and their individuality, they carve a path for themselves right through your expectations. What results is the perfect mixture of not-quite-right and deliciously wrong.