THE SHUNGA FOLDING BOOK

In a series of 24 full-color drawings, satirical cartoonist Matthew Martin, captures the essence of Shunga—the Japanese erotic art—and updates it with witty, and often unlikely, cultural and artistic references. Discreetly packaged in a postcard-sized fold-out accordion format, SHUNGA is a perfect gift for lovers of, well, high-class dirty pictures.

The project began when Martin, a well-known Australian cartoonist and illustrator, was asked by a friend to pain the identifying icons on the men’s and ladies’ room doors in a new, upscale Japanese restaurant in Sydney. After countless and generally inappropriate attempts, Martin rekindled his great admiration for Shunga, and developed the series of drawings in this book. The works were exhibited at a distinguished Sydney gallery to rave reviews and the development of a cult following.

SHUNGA is a fresh, new, and funny little book. With its small size and accordion design, it’s a perfect gift or impulse buy.

Matthew Martin has been an internationally known cartoonist and illustrator for the last three decades. His work has appeared regularly in the Sydney Morning Herald, Time magazine, Rolling Stone, The Times of London, and the New York Times. He now lives in Sydney where Penguin Australia will publish his latest children’s book this year.