Iconic Japanese art to come to London

Black Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai will be on display London – Arab Today The work of one of Japan’s most renowned artists will be on display at Lapada Art and Antiques Fair in London’s Mayfair in September. The Japanese Gallery will be exhibiting the work of seminal 19th century artist Katsushika Hokusai, most famous for his iconic print The Great Wave.
Londoners will be able to catch a glimpse of another one of Hokusai’s best-known woodblock prints, from the Fugaku Sanju-Rokkei (36 Views of Mount Fuji) series, at the Lapada fair.
The print's innovative composition, technique and colour helped win the Japanese artist international acclaim and left a lasting impact on the art world.
Born in 1790, Hokusai’s journey to world-famous wood-print artist began at the age of 14, when he worked as apprentice to a wood-carver.
He went on to devote almost all of his 90-year life to drawing and painting, but despite his enormous success he was never satisfied and constantly sought ways to improve his craft. His artistic influences came from as far away as Europe, with French and Dutch copper engravings leaving their mark on his work.  
Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji collection, which pays tribute to Japan’s highest mountain, is considered one of his masterpieces.
The Japanese art Gallery will be displaying a highlight of the collection at the Lapada Art and Antiques Fair, a wood-print entitled Sanka Hakuu (Black Fuji). Formed of three volcanoes, Fuji has always held sway over the Japanese psyche as a spiritual place - it has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and was a destination for pilgrims throughout history. According to Japanese tradition, the clouds shown in the print represent elegance and status, while the mountains symbolise unyielding constancy.
In addition to the unmissable Hokusai print, art fans can enjoy a wide selection of Japanese antique and artistic pieces spanning some 5000 years at the Japanese Gallery. The gallery's founders, Mr and Mrs Wertheim, will present a selection of genuine Japanese arms and armour, ceramics and original Japanese anime and manga cels, offering fair-goers a taste of the delight and wonder of Japanese artwork.
Japan has a long and vibrant ceramic history, and one of the fair’s highlights will be a pair of Kakiemon bowls dating back to late 18th century.
For those interested in the meeting point between art and violence, a pair of Katana and Wakizashi swords will be on display, dating back to the 17th century and 14th century. Swords hold great importance in Japanese culture - while principally used as weapons, they were also a status symbol, symbolising power and reputation.
Lapada Art and Antiques Fair will be in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London from Wednesday 25th - Sunday 29th September 2013.