Manga and identity: New exhibition at Mak Vienna illuminates youth culture

Manga and identity: New exhibition at Mak Vienna illuminates youth culture

MAK Kunstblättersaal, Wien, Österreich - On April 1, 2025, the exhibition "Girl meets Manga" opens in the MAK Kunstblättersaal in Vienna. This fascinating show addresses the role of manga in the personal development and identity finding of young people. Curator Mio Wakita-Elis, who grew up in Tokyo, emphasizes that so far it has been missing from such an illustration. She wants to show how manga figures offer alternatives to traditional gender roles. In the past, girls in Tokyo were often asked to be cute and good, which is challenged by the representation in manga.

Mio Wakita-Elis himself had a manga ban as a child and was only able to secretly consume manga. She also denied her own children access to these media for a long time. With the exhibition, she now wants to take a new look at the idealized and often sexualized images of women in manga, which have now achieved broader diversity. This supports the examination of topics such as feminism, consumption and globalization.

insight into the exhibition

The presentation begins with a large -format photo of a children's room that gives visitors a first impression. Showcars with everyday objects illustrate the social discourses of the time. The selection of the manga ranges from classics such as "The Roses from Versailles" to modern titles that offer new perspectives.

The exhibition is accompanied by sounds of Tokios-street noise and music from Wakita-Elis ’childhood create a special atmosphere. At the end of the exhibition, audio contributions from Viennese provide insights into their biographies and the influence that manga had on their lives.

manga in youth culture

manga and anime are fixed components of modern youth culture. According to a study by the Institute for Media Research in 2022, over 70% of young people in Germany regularly consume manga or anime, with young people under the age of 18 in particular showing a high level of enthusiasm. These media, which are often presented in a characteristic style with big eyes and dynamic scenes, enable an examination of topics such as finding identity, friendship and social challenges. In particular, young people attract the complex action lines and the profound character developments.

Popular titles such as "One Piece", "Death Note" and "Naruto" show how complex this culture is. At the same time, events such as manga reading groups and cosplay competitions offer opportunities to promote the passion for manga and anime in youth work.

The exhibition "Girl meets Manga" can be seen from April 2 to August 17, 2025 in Mak Vienna. The opening times are Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show not only tries to show the influence of manga on individuals, but also to create a broader social understanding of this important cultural phenomenon.

comic society emphasizes the importance of this show to illustrate the role of manga in the female identity finding. A profound insight into the youth culture, as the Youth leader blog is impressively depicted in this exhibition.