MEDSAN - Geisha Selfie (芸者の自撮り) - UNIQUE WORK

THERE IS ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD - EDITION 1/1

With this square-format work, Medsan signs an irresistible pop and kawaii mashup, bringing the timeless figure of the geisha into the selfie era and social networks. Dressed in a sumptuous kimono, the beauty strikes a pose — kissy face, victory sign, and a smartphone raised high — under a sparkling “PIC!!” and a heart-shaped bubble. The piece sits against an electric pink background punctuated by the neon sign “メドサン” (Medsan). This unique splash sits within a series of playful anachronisms dear to the artist.

The visual punch of the composition lies in its bright graphic language: flat areas of saturated color, bold black outlines, neon palette of pinks, turquoises and golds, sprinkled with twinkling stars and stylized clouds drawn from Japanese ukiyo-e. The kimono, richly adorned with cranes (tsuru), peonies (botan), and seigaiha wave motifs, anchors the figure in the bijin-ga heritage of Utamaro. This fusion of traditional painting and pop imagery echoes Takashi Murakami’s “Superflat” movement, which blends ancestral Japanese art with contemporary popular culture.

The impact of the work rests on its knowing humor: the Edo courtesan, once the absolute mistress of pose and seduction, becomes a true social media icon here. Medsan weaves a playful link between the old art of self-staging and the era of instantaneous images — a tender yet lucid wink about vanity and the worship of appearance, from one century to the next.

A vibrant, fun, and wildly decorative piece, ideal for adding a colorful, pop, and witty touch to a contemporary interior — a favorite among lovers of both Japanese culture and pop culture.

Technical specifications:
Artist: Medsan
Reference: Ukiyo-e / Bijin-ga / Kitagawa Utamaro / Pop Art / Superflat / Takashi Murakami / Kawaii / Geisha / Selfie / Neon
Dimensions: 40 × 40 cm
Edition: Unique work — 1/1 (one-of-a-kind in the world)
Year: 2026
Support: Giclée mounted on a wooden frame (thickness approx. 2 cm)
Signature: Yes, hand-signed
Condition: Excellent
Certificate: Certificate of authenticity (upon request)

About the Studio:
Atelier Joconde is a collective of artists united around contemporary living and plural creation. Set up as a true productive art space, the studio operates both as collective creation and as individual processes, depending on projects and works. Atelier Joconde is also a family venture. Le Yack, a contemporary figurative painter, develops a narrative and introspective body of work with cinematic and realistic influences. Beside him, Medsan, oriented toward pop art painting, explores color, modern iconography, and visual culture. Finally, Neo Pablo engages in a more instinctive quest, blending abstract art, outsider art, and figurative abstraction. Each work is conceived, created, and followed within the studio, with a shared artistic standard and a unique identity for every artist.

Keywords:
Medsan, Atelier Joconde, Le Yack, Ukiyo-e, Bijin-ga, Utamaro, Pop Art, Superflat, Murakami, Kawaii, Geisha, Oiran, Kimono, Kanzashi, Crane, Peony, Selfie, Smartphone, Neon, Anachronism, Bright Colors, Flat Color, Square Format, Contemporary, Unique Work, 1/1