One area of Japan’s artistic traditions that often gets overlooked is that of Kusôzu,—watercolour paintings that show the process of slow decay in the human body, often that of a woman. First introduced during the 8th century and gaining popularity up until the 19th century, Kusôzu was a no-holds-barred depiction of death, showing all of the gory details, from the first moment of the heart ceasing to beat, up until the rotting of flesh and bones.
In the new editorial “Kusôzu”, Tokyo-based photographer Mana Hiraki, explores this morbid traditional art form, bringing a new perspective to the idea of decay that can only be achieved through the lens of a camera.
