Japanese Artist Spends Years Completing Enormous, Intricate Pen and Ink Drawings

A look at some of his earlier drawings demonstrates the focus and attention each piece requires.

Human beings are part of nature, Ikedasays.

The composition began as a scene of a snowy, icy world, but quickly transformed into a wave.

Largescale drawing by Manabu Ikeda

‘History of Rise and Fall'2006pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board200x200cm (6.5×6.5 ft)Photography by MIYAJIMA KeiCollection of TAKAHASHI COLLECTION©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

From here, themes of chaos and disaster, which seem recurring through his work, spill forth.

I hope that people will receive the work and think about the work in many different ways.

I really dont have any idea of how to create a miniature,' Ikeda tells My Modern Met.

Largescale drawing by Manabu Ikeda

‘History of Rise and Fall,' detail2006pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board200x200cm (6.5×6.5 ft)Photography by MIYAJIMA KeiCollection of TAKAHASHI COLLECTION©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

for be able to show the entirety, the tools used should be very delicate and subtle.

The most important thing is what kind of presence the work has as a whole.

That is the most important thing to me.

Largescale drawing by Manabu Ikeda

History of Rise and Fall,' detail2006pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board200x200cm (6.5×6.5 ft)Photography by MIYAJIMA KeiCollection of TAKAHASHI COLLECTION©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Large Pen and Ink Drawing Manabu Ikeda

‘Foretoken'2008pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board190ｘ340cm (6.2×11 ft)Photography by KUGE YasuhideCollection of Kagura Salon (Sustainable Investor Co.,Ltd.)©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Large Pen and Ink Drawing Manabu Ikeda

‘Foretoken,' detail2008pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board190ｘ340cm (6.2×11 ft)Photography by KUGE YasuhideCollection of Kagura Salon (Sustainable Investor Co.,Ltd.)©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Largescale drawing by Manabu Ikeda

Large Pen and Ink Drawing Manabu Ikeda

Meltdown by Manabu Ikeda

‘Meltdown'2013pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board122×122cm (4×4 ft)Photography by West Vancouver MuseumCollection of Chazen Museum of Art©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Manabu Ikeda Drawings

‘Meltdown,' detail2013pen, acrylic ink on paper, mounted on board122×122cm (4×4 ft)Photography by West Vancouver MuseumCollection of Chazen Museum of Art©IKEDA Manabu, Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Manabu Ikeda Art