Yoshitomo nara famous works

Yoshitomo Nara

Japanese artist

Yoshitomo Nara

Nara at the Yokohama Art Museum,

Born () 5 December (age&#;65)

Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

NationalityJapanese
Alma&#;materKunstakademie Düsseldorf, Germany
Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, Nagakute Aichi, Japan
Known&#;forsculpture, painting
Notable workKnife Behind Back (), Sorry, couldn't draw left eye! (),
Straight Jacket (),
Sprout the Ambassador ()[1]
AwardsAward for Artist, Nagoya, Japan,

Yoshitomo Nara (奈良 美智, Nara Yoshitomo, born 5 December in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese artist.

He lives and works in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, though his artwork has been exhibited worldwide. Nara has had nearly 40 solo exhibitions since [2] His art work has been housed at the MoMA and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). His most well-known and repeated subjects are "big-headed girls" with piercing eyes, who one Nara scholar describes as having "childlike expressions [that] resonate with adult emotions, [their] embodiment of kawaii (cuteness) carries a dark humor, and any explicit cultural references are intertwined with personal memories."[3][4]

Early life and education

Nara grew up in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, about miles north of where he lives now in Tochigi Prefecture.[5] His exposure to Western music on the American military radio station Far East Network in Honshu influenced his artistic imagination at an early age.[5] He would later provide cover art for bands including Shonen Knife, R.E.M., and Bloodthirsty Butchers.[5] He received his B.F.A.

() and an M.F.A. () from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music.

Nara yoshitomo biography of george hamilton Nara creates his works directly and freely, bound by nothing. These works transcend barriers of language, cultural backgrounds, and eras; they are beloved by many people. The artist confronts the true essence of people and things, and is invariably honest; resulting in works that are like mirrors that reflect the viewers’ hearts back to them.

Between and , Nara studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, in Germany.[6]

Artwork

"Nara first came to the fore of the art world during Japan's Pop art movement in the s. The subject matter of his sculptures and paintings is deceptively simple: most works depict one seemingly innocuous subject (often pastel-hued children and animals drawn with confident, cartoonish lines) with little or no background.

But these children, who appear at first to be cute and even vulnerable, sometimes brandish weapons like knives and saws. Their wide eyes often hold accusatory looks that could be sleepy-eyed irritation at being awoken from a nap—or that could be undiluted expressions of hate."[7]

Nara, however, does not see his weapon-wielding subjects as aggressors.

"Look at them, they [the weapons] are so small, like toys. Do you think they could fight with those?" he says. "I don't think so. Rather, I kind of see the children among other, bigger, bad people all around them, who are holding bigger knives"[8] Lauded by art critics, Nara's bizarrely intriguing works have gained him a cult following around the world.[7] Large original paintings regularly sell for millions of dollars.[9]

In June, , Nara's artwork was featured in the album titled "Suspended Animation" by experimental band Fantômas.

Other commercial products (including videos, books, magazines, catalogues and monographs) have been dedicated to Nara's work. Recently, a two-volume catalogue raisonné of all his sculptures, paintings, and drawings was completed.[10]

In , the Asia Society showed Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's Fool the first major New York exhibition of his work.[11] Other major retrospectives include: "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me", which toured Japan between and ; and "Yoshitomo Nara: Nothing Ever Happens," which traveled the United States from to [10] One of his exhibited works is now part of a window of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England.

In , Nara's installation art Not Everything but/ Green House () was sold for a new record price of HK$m (US$m) at Poly Auction Hong Kong. However, this record only lasted for a few hours. Knife Behind Back (), a large-scale painting by Nara, just sold at Sotheby'sContemporary Art Evening Sale in Hong Kong for HK$m (US$25m), nearly five times its record.

The new record is also a milestone for Nara as he becomes the most expensive Japanese artist.[12]Can’t Wait ‘til the Night Comes was sold for HK$m at the same year.

In April , the painting Frog Girl was sold in Sotheby'sHong Kong Spring auction for US$ million.[13]

Influences

Though Nara claims to have never said that he was influenced by manga,[14] the imagery of manga and anime of his s childhood is often cited when discussing Nara's stylized, large-eyed figures.[15][16] Nara subverts these images, however, by infusing his works with horror-like imagery.

This juxtaposition of human evil with the innocent child may be a reaction to Japan's rigid social conventions.[1]

Nara cites his musical education as a foundational influence for his art.[5] The punk rock music of Nara's youth has also influenced his work.[17]

Nara's upbringing in post-World War II Japan profoundly affected his mindset and, subsequently, his artwork as well.

He grew up in a time when Japan was experiencing an inundation of Western pop culture; comic books, Warner Bros and Walt Disney animation, and Western rock music are just a few examples.[18] Additionally, Nara was raised in the isolated countryside as a latchkey child of working-class parents, so he was often left alone with little to do but explore his young imagination.

Nara yoshitomo biography of george w Yoshitomo Nara (奈良 美智, Nara Yoshitomo, born 5 December in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese artist. He lives and works in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, though his artwork has been exhibited worldwide.

The fiercely independent subjects that populate so much of his artwork may be a reaction to Nara's own largely independent childhood.[19]

Recent work

Nara exhibited work in New York at the Pace Gallery in May–April It was his first exhibition in New York since Entitled Thinker, the pieces exhibited represent a shift towards a more meditative body of work.[20] Of this shift, Nara said, "In the past I would have an image that I wanted to create, and I would just do it.

I would just get it finished. Now I take my time and work slowly and build up all these layers to find the best way. Just like you cook so that you know it’s going to be the most delicious, you find a way to make your art the best it can be."[14]

In July , The Toyota Municipal Museum of Art held a career retrospective of the artist's work, called for better or worse.[21]

A retrospective of his work, including pieces from 36 years, is being exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in [22]

Selected exhibitions

  • - „Yoshitomo Nara“ - Guggenheim Bilbao[23]
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara: All my little words" - ALBERTINA MODERN, Vienna[24]
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara: Ceramic Works and " - Pace, Hong Kong[25]
  • - "Drawings: Last 30 Years" - Kaikai Kiki, Tokyo[26]
  • - "for better or worse" - Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Aichi
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara: New Works" - Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
  • - "Shallow Puddles" - Blum and Poe, Tokyo[27]
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara" - Blum and Poe, Los Angeles
  • - "15TH ANNIVERSARY INAUGURAL EXHIBITION" - Blum and Poe, Los Angeles
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara and installation by YNG" - Blum and Poe, Los Angeles
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara - New Works" - Blum and Poe, Los Angeles
  • - "Inaugural Group Show" - Blum and Poe, Los Angeles
  • - "YOSHITOMO NARA In the White Room: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings" - Blum and Poe, Santa Monica
  • - "YOSHITOMO NARA An Exhibition of Sculpture in Two Parts (PARTS I & II)" - Blum and Poe, Santa Monica
  • - "Yoshitomo Nara" - Blum and Poe, Santa Monica
  • - "YOSHITOMO NARA: PACIFIC BABIES - Los Angeles International '95 In Cooperation with SCAI The Bathhouse, Tokyo" - Blum and Poe, Santa Monica

Selected publications

  • Koon, Yeewan ().

    Yoshitomo Nara. Phaidon.

  • Koplos, Janet. "Making Space for Misfits: Yoshitomo Nara." Sculpture. Volume 30, Number 3. April p.&#; ISSN&#;X
  • A to Z. Tokyo: Foil, ISBN&#;

References

  1. ^ abHolzwarth, Hans W. (). Contemporary Artists A-Z (Taschen's 25th anniversary special&#;ed.).

    Köln: Taschen. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.

  2. ^"San Jose Museum of Art". Archived from the original on Retrieved 28 January
  3. ^Koon, Yeewan (). Yoshitomo Nara. Phaidon.

    Nara yoshitomo biography of george Summary of Yoshitomo Nara. Nara is a central figure within contemporary Japanese art. He is associated specifically with the rise of Superflat art; a term coined by Nara's compatriot Takashi Murakami to describe a movement that blends a two-dimensional (flat) graphic design with the more contemplative interests of fine art.

    p.&#;6. Archived from the original on Retrieved

  4. ^Koon, Yeewan (). "The Artist Behind the Camera: Yoshitomo Nara". Once in a Life – Encounters with Nara. Asia Society. Retrieved 7 January
  5. ^ abcdMarino, Nick (July 24, ).

    "Yoshitomo Nara Paints What He Hears". New York Times. Archived from the original on July 24, Retrieved July 24,

  6. ^"Yoshitomo Nara biography". Archived from the original on 1 July Retrieved 12 April
  7. ^ ab"NARA". Archived from the original on 27 January Retrieved 12 April
  8. ^Yoshitomo NaraArchived September 23, , at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^"Phillips's $ Million Sale Sets Two Records".

    artnet News. 15 October Archived from the original on 10 January Retrieved 10 January

  10. ^ ab"Artist Profile: Yoshitomo Nara". Archived from the original on Retrieved
  11. ^St.-Lascaux, David (October ). "Hey, Ho, Let's Go: YOSHITOMO NARA at the Asia Society".

    The Brooklyn Rail. Archived from the original on Retrieved

  12. ^"Yoshitomo Nara Becomes Most Expensive Japanese Artist as His "Knife Behind Back" Sells for Record-Smashing HK$m | Auctions News | THE VALUE | Art News". . Archived from the original on Retrieved
  13. ^"Yoshitomo Nara | Frog Girl".

    Sotheby's.

  14. Yoshitomo nara shop
  15. Yoshitomo nara artworks
  16. Yoshimoto nara moma
  17. Yoshitomo nara artwork names

    18. Archived from the original on Retrieved

  18. ^ abAyers, Robert (14 April ). "'I Was Really Unthinking Before': Yoshitomo Nara on His Recent Work and His Show at Pace Gallery in New York". Art News. Archived from the original on 18 February Retrieved 17 February
  19. ^"Yoshitomo Nara".

    Archived from the original on June 19, Retrieved 12 April

  20. ^Chambers, Kristin (). "Nara, Yoshitomo". Oxford Art Online. Grove Art Online. doi/gao/article.T ISBN&#;.(subscription required)
  21. ^Chiu, Melissa. "Yoshitomo Nara". Archived from the original on Retrieved
  22. ^Chambers, Kristin.

    "Yoshitomo Nara". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 5 May Retrieved 12 April

  23. ^Mizota, Sharon. "Little Triggers".

  24. Nara yoshitomo biography of george bush
  25. Nara yoshitomo biography of george harrison
  26. Nara yoshitomo biography of george orwell

    27. Archived from the original on 17 March Retrieved 12 April

  27. ^"Pace Gallery - Yoshitomo Nara: Thinker". Pace Gallery. Archived from the original on 18 February Retrieved 17 February
  28. ^"Yoshitomo Nara for better or worse Works". Toyota Municipal Museum of Modern Art.

    Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 17 February

  29. ^Marino, Nick ().

    Nara yoshitomo biography of george floyd

    Nara’s works contain everything that he encompasses. Memories etched into the depths of his soul; and the music, paintings, literature he encountered organically by following his curiosity, that inspired his spirit and sensibilities — these are all accumulated in countless layers.

    "Yoshitomo Nara Paints What He Hears". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Archived from the original on Retrieved

  30. ^"Yoshitomo Nara | Guggenheim Museum Bilbao". . Retrieved
  31. ^"Yoshitomo Nara. All My Little Words". The ALBERTINA Museum Vienna. Archived from the original on Retrieved
  32. ^"Pace Gallery - "Ceramic Works and" - Yoshitomo Nara".

    Pace Gallery. Archived from the original on Retrieved

  33. ^"Kaikai Kiki Gallery - Drawings&#;: ~ Last 30 years Yoshitomo Nara". Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Archived from the original on 18 February Retrieved 17 February
  34. ^"Blum and Poe - Yoshitomo Nara".

    Blum and Poe. Archived from the original on 18 February Retrieved 17 February

Further reading

  • Grosenick, Uta; Riemschneider, Burkhard, eds. ().

    Nara yoshitomo biography of george bush: Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara specializes in flat, two-dimensional drawings depicting sulky, bigheaded cartoonesque characters who are cunningly cute yet corrosive. His pictures, clearly full of angst, pack a warped visual punch that appeals to a broad range of viewers.

    Art Now (25th anniversary&#;ed.). Köln: Taschen. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;

External links