Manga has a history dating back to the 12th century, and this exhibition explores it all.
2019 appears to be the year of landmark comic exhibitions hitting London, doesn’t it? With Somerset House’s wonderful Peanuts exhibit in the rearview mirror, it’s welcome news that the next big one arrives this month. The British Museum’s landmark manga exhibition (simply titled ‘Manga‘) lands on May 23rd – and it’s kind of a Big Deal, as the largest exhibition of its kind ever staged outside Japan.
See also: All the best art exhibits arriving in London in 2019.
Roughly translating as “pictures run riot”, manga is a stylised confluence of art and storytelling that can trace its roots back centuries. Manga spans genres including fantasy, romance, horror, comedy, history, and sports, so it’s no real exaggeration to say there’s something for everyone.
See also: Our complete guide to the British Museum.
The British Museum exhibit will explore manga’s roots, its emergence as a popular form in the 1920s, and the transformation into the multi-billion publishing behemoth it is today. It continues to grow as a phenomenon, with anime and cosplay often drawing inspiration from established manga series. The exhibit will examine a huge range of historic and modern manga, from historical imprints like the Tale of the Monkeys, to contemporary smash-hits like ONE PIECE, Golden Kamuy, and Princess Jellyfish.
You’ll find it at the British Museum from May 23rd until August 26th, and given the worldwide popularity of manga, I’d wager it’s going to be a very popular one…
Location:
Opening hours: it runs May 23rd – August 26th, and is open 10am-5:30pm daily.
Entry: £19.50 for adults, members and under 16s go free. Buy tickets here.
More info: on the British Museum website.
Featured image: @britishmuseum