Henmaru Machino
Encyclopedia
Henmaru Machino is a Japanese artist, described as the Magritte of the ero manga
world, whose works prominently feature themes of dysmorphic hermaphrodism and body transformation, as well as dozens of other sexual paraphilia. Most of his work has emerged within a paradigm of Hentai
manga
and images, but some has appeared in galleries; several of his pieces were part of Takashi Murakami
's traveling Superflat
exhibition.
While Machino's work defies any easy categorization, it could be said to fall within the Japanese EroGuro
(Erotic Grotesque) school, still somewhat loosely defined, which dates back to Dada
-influenced, Showa-era Decadence
. Some assert that it is pornography of the most extreme variety, and nothing more. While porn-or-art debates have been occurring around a wide variety of works for centuries across the globe, the debates surrounding Machino are unique in that his subject matter is at the far fringes of human sexual experience, and even beyond it, in that much of what he draws could never occur in the real world. While many EroGuro
artists create works that could have real-world analogues (S&M, mutilation
, etc.), Machino's images of, for example, girls with dozens of phalli sprouting from each of the dozens of breasts that cover their body, are not something any viewer of his work could ever see in life, and thus the issue of "what is pornography?" strongly preempts the issue of "art or pornography?" in some of his work.
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
world, whose works prominently feature themes of dysmorphic hermaphrodism and body transformation, as well as dozens of other sexual paraphilia. Most of his work has emerged within a paradigm of Hentai
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and images, but some has appeared in galleries; several of his pieces were part of Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami
is an internationally prolific contemporary Japanese artist. He works in fine arts media—such as painting and sculpture—as well as what is conventionally considered commercial media —fashion, merchandise, and animation— and is known for blurring the line between high and low art...
's traveling Superflat
Superflat
Superflat is a postmodern art movement, founded by the artist Takashi Murakami, which is influenced by manga and anime. It is also the name of a 2001 art exhibition, curated by Murakami, that toured West Hollywood, Minneapolis and Seattle....
exhibition.
While Machino's work defies any easy categorization, it could be said to fall within the Japanese EroGuro
EroGuro
is a wasei-eigo term that describes a literary and artistic movement from 1920s and '30s Japan. Ero guro puts its focus on eroticism, sexual corruption and decadence. While ero guro is a specific movement, many of its components can be found throughout Japanese history and culture. The term is...
(Erotic Grotesque) school, still somewhat loosely defined, which dates back to Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
-influenced, Showa-era Decadence
Decadent movement
The Decadent movement was a late 19th century artistic and literary movement of Western Europe. It flourished in France, but also had devotees in England and throughout Europe, as well as in the United States.-Overview:...
. Some assert that it is pornography of the most extreme variety, and nothing more. While porn-or-art debates have been occurring around a wide variety of works for centuries across the globe, the debates surrounding Machino are unique in that his subject matter is at the far fringes of human sexual experience, and even beyond it, in that much of what he draws could never occur in the real world. While many EroGuro
EroGuro
is a wasei-eigo term that describes a literary and artistic movement from 1920s and '30s Japan. Ero guro puts its focus on eroticism, sexual corruption and decadence. While ero guro is a specific movement, many of its components can be found throughout Japanese history and culture. The term is...
artists create works that could have real-world analogues (S&M, mutilation
Mutilation
Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body, usually without causing death.- Usage :...
, etc.), Machino's images of, for example, girls with dozens of phalli sprouting from each of the dozens of breasts that cover their body, are not something any viewer of his work could ever see in life, and thus the issue of "what is pornography?" strongly preempts the issue of "art or pornography?" in some of his work.
Partial list of works
- Mediax/MD Comics, 1994. - Issui Sha/Izumi Comics, 1994. - East Press, 1996. - Sanwa Shuppan, 1996. - Ohta Shuppan/Ohta Comics, 1996. - Issui Sha/Izumi Comics, 1997 - Issui Sha/Izumi Comics, 1998. - Ohta Shuppan/Ohta Comics, 1998. - Kubo Shoten/World Comics, 1998. - Sanwa Shuppan, 1998. - Issui Sha/Izumi Comics, 1998. - Kubo Shoten/World Comics Special, 2002. - Sanwa Shuppan, 1997 - East Press, 1999 - Issui Sha/Izumi Comics, 199?External links
- Machino works list (Japanese)