Serious Wonder Sunday: Do We Fear Utopia?
78 years ago, on November 26 of 1936, an artist was born. Japanese illustrator Shusei Nagaoka has made a name for himself in the business of science-fiction art. Most prominently was his work as cover artist for several music albums throughout the 1970s and ’80s, winning him several awards as a result. Though his greatest achievement occurred in 1991 when his artwork was launched into space and orbited Earth via the Russian Mir Space Station.
The art shown below was only a fraction of his entire catalog, but it certainly paints a vivid understanding to Nagaoka’s style of sci-fi art. His illustrations represent a look into the eyes of a man who imagined nothing but a bright, beautiful future. If you wish to purchase any of his work, be sure to check out his homepage.
“To me, this subject [sci-fi art] has been so close that it is like the air I breathe. Without it, my life would be meaningless.” – Vincent Di Fate
“Science fiction, as a literature, teaches people to think beyond the obvious answers; that even when they think they have a good answer, they should turn it upside down and examine it from another perspective. As an art form, science fiction is a vital part of our culture, and science fiction art is an integral part of the package.” – Frank Kelly Freas
Photo Credit: Shusei Nagaoka / Juxtopoz Magazine
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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