Decay of the Human Form: An Editorial from Mana Hiraki

 
 
 

The contemplation of death and all its forms has been a common subject throughout art history, from gothic motifs to depictions of Christ and the afterlife, this fascination with the macabre and the unknown is a very human quality. This subject matter has equally found a place in Japan’s own artistic history, such as “death poems”, or the literature of writers such as Yukio Mishima—a writer who often obsessed over the beauty of death. 

 
 
 
 
 

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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Playing on ideas of ghosts from Japanese folklore and entwining them with beautiful flower motifs, the images are a blend of beauty and the grotesque. Like a beguiling wound, flowers burst from the model’s body, breathing life into an otherwise decaying corpse. The images give off an ethereal quality, seemingly existing somewhere between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Swipe through to check out our favourite cuts from the series and stay connected with GATA for more exclusive editorials from the most creative artists in Tokyo. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Photographer: Mana Hiraki
Model: Saya Sugimori
Florist: Genki Tanaka
Makeup: UMEO

 
 
 
Art, PhotographyGATA Magazine