Evangelion was born as anime, that will appear a manga and a series of feature films, gaining worldwide success both formats.They are their mythical characters who introduce us to a world of katanas. The exhibition "Evangelion and Japanese Katanas" makes a route through the contemporary swords inspired in the famous animated film, but also through the classic swords from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The show is a initiative from Japan Foundation and ABC Museum.
Created by Gainax studio and coordinated by Hideaki Anno, Evangelion, is a manga adaptation of the anime series homonymous. The plot is liven up in a futurist world where a paramilitary organization called NERV protects to the humanity from the unknown species called "angels". To fight, NERV, did a enormous a giant series of biomechanical called Evangelion — known as EVA—. These can only be piloted by young people: Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Shikinami o Mari Illustrious Makinamison.
PAST AND PRESENT.
Faithfully recreate the fantastic world of Evangelion that is the challenge that have faced twenty smiths from different regions of Japan. Continuing the traditional hand methods, they have materialized the iconic pieces that protagonists wielding as the Longinus spear or Bizen Osafune y Magoroku spears. All of them inspired, in Japan medieval battles.
In the sample we find a good example of these: 7 old katanas that date from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The exhibition gives a new point of view to the world of traditional Japanese swords to reflect the close relationship between past and present. In fact, nearby to the reproduces for the exhibition inspired in Evangelion and the historical, is also find a large number of antique pieces such as leaves, pods, handles that make swords …These elements dating from the Kamakura period (1185-1333) to Edo (1603-1868).
The sample is an opportunity to discover the art and history of the Katanas. In a time like the present in which they are considered-and are collected-as works of art. The exhibition also reveals-schematically- how the process of development of Japanese animation film, from pencil sketch to digital special effects, through the storyboard.
CREDITS.
Colabotators.- Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum; All Japan Swordsmith Association Operation Department; GroundWorks: Co., Ltd.
Patrocinator.- ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS CO., LTD.
Dates.- from July 4th to September 25th, 2014.
Venue.- Museo ABC. Calle Amaniel Nº 29 - 31. 28015 - Madrid. Spain.
