MEDSAN - Anatomy Samurai (解剖の侍) - UNIQUE WORK

ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD EXISTS - EDITION 1/1

With this square-format artwork, Medsan signs his anatomical signature at the top in a mashup that is both noble and vertiginous. A samurai in parade armour, helmeted with his horned kabuto, sees his torso “defragmenting”: plates, fabrics and flesh shatter into a thousand fragments to reveal the rib cage and skeleton, while shards of bone and cherry blossom petals scatter through the air. The whole rests on a delicate coral background. This unique print is a nod to the artist Gontek, known for his “defragmented” works, and bears the signature “メドサン” (Medsan) in a cartouche.

The visual impact of the composition lies in the contrast between meticulousness and explosion: the rendering of the armour’s delicate finish — lacquered, lacelike plates, chrysanthemum floral motifs — clashes with the body’s fragmentation into suspended fragments. The bare skeleton evokes the tradition of anatomical dissection, inherited from Renaissance plates, fused with the imagery of the warrior in the woodblock print (musha-e).

The work’s impact lies in its symbolic depth: the mighty warrior, embodiment of strength and honor, is revealed in mortal fragility. The cherry blossoms dispersing — the quintessential symbol of impermanence (mono no aware) in Japanese culture — echo the disintegration of the body. It is a rare and elegant memento mori, a meditation on the beauty of the transient.

A striking, refined and conceptual piece, ideal for adding a strong, poetic, and decidedly contemporary touch to a collector’s interior — a favorite with lovers of Japanese culture, anatomy, and pop illustration.

Technical specifications:
Artist: Medsan
Reference: Écorché / Anatomy / Memento mori / Mono no aware / Musha-e / Japanese woodblock print / Samurai / Shogun / Gontek / Defragmented work
Dimensions: 40 × 40 cm
Edition: Unique work — 1/1 (one-of-a-kind in the world)
Year: 2026
Support: Giclée mounted on birch frame (thickness ~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 a living and plural contemporary creation. Established as a true artistic production space, the studio operates both in collective creation and in individual ventures, depending on the 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 pursuit, blending abstract art, outsider art and figurative abstraction. Each work is conceived, realized and overseen within the studio, with a shared artistic standard and an identity unique to each artist.

Keywords:
Medsan, Atelier Joconde, Le Yack, Écorché, Anatomy, Memento mori, Mono no aware, Musha-e, Japanese woodblock print, Samurai, Shogun, Armor, Skeleton, Rib cage, Cherry blossom, Sakura, Gontek, Defragmented, Square format, Contemporary, Unique work, 1/1