It’s inarguable that the stigma around hentai is still very present. While the topic of sex is still a societal taboo, its place in art is undebatable. Back in 2018, adult gaming platform Nutaku partnered with artists from around the world to bring that sweet deviant indie style to the surface, thanks to the Hentai is Art movement.
While the movement was quite successful and brought together many enthusiasts, it’s always nice to get a refresher on what was made- hey, we’re suckers for cool art. So, without further ado, let’s dive right back into the retrospective of erotic art, hentai, and street art in today’s stigmas.
Throughout the ages, art has been a pivotal outlet for human creativity. Eroticism in art holds a complex history, interlaced with societal norms and stigmas that shape what we consider to be ‘art’. This history poses some compelling questions, at what point does erotic art become pornography? And how does this change how we view pornographic content today?
Eroticism in art presents a historical conflict faced by artists to express themselves. In a world that struggles to define what aspects of the human body require censorship, we begin to understand the lengths taken by revolutionary artists in pursuit of creative truth.
But hentai is not the only art form that faced scrutiny. Societal backlash is undoubtedly felt by other contemporary conceptions of creative expressions. Street art, tattooing, and fantasy sex toys are brought together by this shared struggle of being considered art in the modern world.
Street art presents another rebellious art form born out of the revolutionary movements in the 1960s. Considered a form of vandalism, graffiti remains outlawed to this day. Here, Nutaku-tan took over a wall in Brooklyn, by Key Detail.
The art of tattooing holds a rich history, dating back to Neolithic times. Still banned within many workplaces, there are deep-rooted stigmas associated with tattoos that are often stereotyped.
Masturbation is not a topic that often finds its way into dinner parties and social gatherings, let alone an art exhibit. While many shy away from sharing their pleasure-inducing collections with the world, Bad Dragon, the avant-garde creators of fantasy sex toys, seek to sculpt eye-catching and unique masterpieces.
Some artists chose to recreate classic paintings. On his very own "Birth of Venus", artist Moize expands by saying that his "take on Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus was to depict the two forces of nature, the Zephyr on the left and the Horae on the right, rushing to claim the Goddess of Love."
For this rendering of the "Mona Lisa", SquChan develops that "Da Vinci’s widespread knowledge of science and art, deep understanding of anatomy, and risqué styles are admirable aspects. My take on this piece highlights the natural beauty behind the silk, giving the original an erotic touch."
"The Creation of Adam is one of the most famous sections in the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. I modified the characters in this representation by adding more feminine figures and fewer masculine ones. Replacing Adam with Lilith, I also chose to substitute God by portraying the Temptation in the form of women receiving pleasure from a tentacle being." says Uliel Art.
Diving further down in the classics rendering, the Rococo and Neo-Classical periods also inspired artists- Bokuman’s take on Ingre’s "Jupiter and Thetis" depicts a "sexualized version of a cloud-born Olympian male deity against two nude nymphs as they erotically caress him. While Jupiter symbolizes male vigor, the two female characters embody voluptuous feminine beauty."
And, while Fragonard’s famous "Swing" was already filled with erotica, Webnatu’s went down that road even further, showing "a woman that just wants to explore her sexual inclinations regardless of the restrictions placed on her".
But whether or not hentai fascinates the artistic eye, it has always faced considerable scrutiny. Censorship laws in Japan have impacted the circulation of such creative works, with laws being established within the Criminal Code to forbid the publication of obscene materials. Representation of male and female intercourse were considered profanity. In revolt, Japanese artists began exploring alternative ways to represent the human form, and revive erotica; tentacles began to embody the male penis, and monsters took form next to aroused lovers.
Though Japanese censorship regulations have evolved, other parts of the world continue to ban erotic content. Nutaku’s coveted strategy title, Crystal Maidens, boasts a unique style of hentai, belonging to a class of its own. Crystal Maidens stunning graphics were illustrated by an accomplished Korean artist, who remains anonymous due to the prohibition of pornographic content in South Korea. You can find the game here.
