Art + Culture

Yoshitomo und ich 美智と僕

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo by Mario A 亜 真里男
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo by Mario A 亜 真里男

We should take great pride in Yoshitomo’s accomplishments during these precarious COVID-19 times we’re actually living in. Recently, four fantastic solo exhibitions @ LACMA, Kuandu Museum, dallas contemporary and Yuz Museum have been curated with great love and affection. Curator in Charge, Mika YOSHITAKE deserves the respect and gratitude of all of us.
As Yoshitomo attracts amazing, huge crowds all over the world, today I would like to give you a short, personal overview of his artistic practice.
Or, to be honest, of his ambiguous narrative, where solitude, day-dreaming, rock music, cigarettes and beer have always been his best friends.
Or, his yearning for “there is no place like home” (and the influence of ‘The Wizard of Oz’).
Or, recapitalising Yoshitomo’s sentimental memories of wanting to become a cool, Ramones-like, Punk Rocker in Japan.
Or, the catharsis of childhood traumas through paintings and drawings.
His words in English: “Through my childhood, I can see now”.

screenshot from michinara3 instagram
Screenshot from michinara3 instagram. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense

At the beginning of his career, I interestingly followed his interrelationship with young novelist YOSHIMOTO Banana 吉本 ばなな.
「ひな菊の人生」
吉本ばなな・奈良美智
https://www.rockinonstore.jp/rs/detail.php?product_id=68

奈良美智と吉本ばなな
https://www.suiha.co.jp/column/narayositomotoyosimotobanana/

“Argentine Baba” 「アルゼンチンババア (ARGENTINE HAG)」is a novel written by YOSHIMOTO Banana in 2002. Illustrations by NARA Yoshitomo.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/アルゼンチンババア

YOSHIMOTO Banana 吉本 ばなな by Mario A 亜 真里男
YOSHIMOTO Banana 吉本 ばなな by Mario A 亜 真里男

Please keep in mind, that even if I can call them “close buddies”, Yoshitomo has almost nothing to do with 村上隆 MURAKAMI Takashi’s DORAEMON ドラえもん, “Kawaii”, “Superflat”, “Otaku” or similar “Anime” stereotypes written by foreign critics’ BS about Japanese art. Hey, Jim Morrison’s smokin’.

screenshot from fukuhen’s blog Nara attending Murakami’s opening in Quatar Murakami Ego 2012
Screenshot from fukuhen’s (Yoshio Suzuki) blog. Nara attending Murakami’s opening in Qatar “Murakami Ego” 2012. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense

Nowadays, instead of his original beat, his unique paintings are tremendously searched after amongst the collectors and museum curators. Let’s say it humbly: Yoshitomo can be called one of the hottest artists in the world.
I would hereby like to emphasise, that until last year, he rejected all offers from mainland China. We may imagine the reason why.
Through the “filters” of the galleries Blum & Poe and Pace from the U.S., plus Jakarta-born, Indonesian-Chinese entrepreneur Bud Tek engagements we may state that a retrospective can be finally appreciated in China for the very first time in history. Please note, that this museum is the private Yuz Museum 余德耀美术馆 in Shanghai, founded by Bud Tek, who unfortunately passed away this March. In 2018 it entered partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art via which the two institutions share artworks and team up on curatorial efforts.

Socio-political consciousness as attitude. Please listen to his recent interviews, taken in Dallas and Los Angeles, see below. After the partly human-made “Fukushima-Earthquake-Tsunami” catastrophe (which was almost ignored during Tokyo’s Olympiad 2020/2021), Yoshitomo helped out as a volunteer and pro-actively supported the anti-nuke movement in Japan.

Screenshot from Twitter
Screenshot from Twitter

Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/216330142597914624

Demonstration in front of the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office with NO NUKES by NARA Yoshitomo, March 11, 2018
Demonstration in front of the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office with “NO NUKES” by NARA Yoshitomo, March 11, 2018
Mario A 亜 真里男 国民の声 #2 People’s Voice #2 from “People’s Voice 3:11 ~” (2017)
Mario A 亜 真里男 「国民の声#2」 “People’s Voice #2” from “People’s Voice 3/11 ~” (2017)
Mario A 亜 真里男 国民の声 #3 People’s Voice #3 from “People’s Voice 3:11 ~” (2017)
Mario A 亜 真里男 「国民の声#3」 “People’s Voice #3” from “People’s Voice 3/11 ~” (2017)
2012-7-16 Soyanara Nukes
2012/7/16 Soyanara Nukes
2012-7-16 Soyanara Nukes
Screenshot from youtube. 2012/7/16 “Soyanara Nukes”

7.16さよなら原発10万人集会2鎌田慧、奈良美智、坂本龍一
Link_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqIou298ai8

http://sayonara-nukes.org/2012/06/0716sayonara_nukes/

Around 2016…

Bookstore Mario A 亜 真里男 “The situation is under control” next to YOSHITOMO NARA SELF-SELECTED WORKS “WORKS ON PAPER” 奈良美智 自選集「ドローイング」
Bookstore: Mario A 亜 真里男 “The situation is under control” next to YOSHITOMO NARA SELF-SELECTED WORKS “WORKS ON PAPER” 奈良美智 自選集「ドローイング」

Thank “god” (aka Germans demonstrating and fighting for a fair social contract), Germany offers a free education system, where young Yoshitomo could study art, (whatever that means), in the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Without speaking German, plus, important to emphasise: without financial constraints, in contrast to the U.S.A. or Japan, he could blossom and mature as an artist.

His German mentor, painter A.R. Penck (professor from 1988–2003, passed away in 2017) was extremely crucial in nurturing Yoshitomo’s self-esteem. Like A.R., he could focus exclusively on the, somehow street-art-like, punky painterly process.

A.R. Penck, hab’ ihn selig & ein Glückwunschtrunk auf Deinen Schüler Yoshitomo!
Wir erzählen uns Geschichten, um zu leben, nicht wahr?
Wir beide werden bald 63! PROST!

Tokyo-Basel, 26th of August 2022
Mario

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Yoshitomo! PROST!!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Yoshitomo! PROST!!
A.R. Penck
A.R. Penck

Er nannte sich Y – Der unbekannte A.R. Penck

in conversation: yoshitomo nara + pedro alonzo (Premiered Mar 21, 2021)

yoshitomo nara
i forgot their names and often can’t remember their faces but remember their voices well

dallas contemporary, Dallas
March 20 – August 22, 2021
https://www.dallascontemporary.org/yoshitomo-nara

Yoshitomo Nara
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei
March 12 – June 20, 2021
https://kdmofa.tnua.edu.tw
https://kdmofa.tnua.edu.tw/en/mod/exhibition/index.php?REQUEST_ID=e1626ae68798853bcff9a390f902a9df2bb963cea92a91baf96a9a3de5a6573b

《奈良美智特展》展場影片(文化總會提供)

Yoshitomo Nara
April 1, 2021 – January 2, 2022
BCAM, Level 2
LACMA, Los Angeles
https://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/yoshitomo-nara

Yoshitomo Nara: A Conversation with Curator Mika Yoshitake
March 10, 2021
https://unframed.lacma.org/2021/03/10/yoshitomo-nara-conversation-curator-mika-yoshitake

“Virtual” (in the context of Covid-19) conversation between NARA Yoshitomo and Mika YOSHITAKE (Premiered Oct 12, 2020)

See also:
Link_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVuLK6aA6C8
Yoshitomo Nara – Part 3: No longer just a girl with a knife: Art after Fukushima | Art & Conversation (Feb 10, 2021)

Yoshitomo Nara
Yuz Museum, West Bund, Shanghai
March 5th – September 4th, 2022
Curator: Mika Yoshitake
“Yoshitomo Nara” is organized by Yuz Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
http://www.yuzmshanghai.org/yoshitomo-nara/?lang=en

FOREVER ALONE
FOREVER ALONE
奈良美智 Yoshitomo Nara
NO ONE KNOWS

NO ONE KNOWS

奈良美智 for better or worse 個展 solo show 2017 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “for better or worse” 個展 solo show 2017 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, “I’m Sorry” 2007. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 105 x 70 cm, Samsung Museum of Art, Leeum, courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1988 (無題 no title)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1988. Watercolor, colored pencil and pen on paper, 21 x 20,5 cm. Private Collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)

(? Eirian = Alien ?)

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1988
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「今にも目からこぼれそうな涙のわけが言えません。」”I Couldn’t Say the Reason Why Tears Fall from the Eyes Now.” 1988. Pencil and colored pencil on paper, 29.5 x 21.0 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1988
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1988. Acrylic, colored pencil, and pencil on paper, 29.5 x 21.0 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Romantic Catastrophe” 1988. Acrylic and coloured pencil on canvas, 116.7 x 90.9 cm. Private collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Romantic Catastrophe” 1988. Acrylic and coloured pencil on canvas, 116.7 x 90.9 cm. Private collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ワン・ボーイ」One Boy 1988. Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas, 130.5 x 54.2 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ワン・ボーイ」”One Boy” 1988. Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas, 130.5 x 54.2 cm. Private collection. Inscribed upper part: DIE TRAUER/ DAS HAUS/ Peace; lower right: BOYS/ Cheap/ Thing; lower part: Boys, Boys/ It’s a cheap thing/ CHEAP THiNG
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「リトル・プリンス」Little Prince 1988. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 110 x 80 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「リトル・プリンス」”Little Prince” 1988. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 110 x 80 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「無題」 Untitled 1988. Colored pencil, acrylic on paper, 98.6 x 60.4 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「無題」 “Untitled” 1988. Colored pencil, acrylic on paper, 98.6 x 60.4 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, works on paper, 1989
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, left:「港のあの娘」(Girl at the Harbor)、right:「ゼロ戦の夢」(Dream of Zero Fighter Plane), both 1989. Watercolor, colored pencil and pen on paper, 20.5 x 14.5 cm, Aomori Museum of Art

up-date 2022/11/21 via Twitter:

加藤 K
@KATOK3
Replying to
@michinara3
僕のスケッチブックに描いてくれた奈良さんのドローイング、額に入れて大事にしています!!
Replying to @KATOK3 and @michinara3
このドローイングです!!

Untitled (?) work by NARA Yoshitomo, painted during his time in Nagoya
Untitled (?) work by NARA Yoshitomo, painted during his time in Nagoya around 1988/9?

Link_https://twitter.com/KATOK3/status/1594508402742685697

Twitter screenshot
Twitter screenshot

End of up-date


奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1989
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「Sleepless Night、先生の夢」”Sleepless Night, Dream of Teacher” 1989. Watercolor, colored pencil, and pencil on paper, 20.5 x 14.5 cm. Aomori Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ヴィッキー」Vicky 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 24.5 x 24 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ヴィッキー」”Vicky” 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 24.5 x 24 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「無題」 Untitled 1990. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 68 x 48 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「無題」 “Untitled” 1990. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 68 x 48 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 花をあげよう Give You the Flower 1990. Acrylic on canvas. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「花をあげよう」”Give You the Flower” 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 111 x 92 cm. Private Collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「続いてゆく道に」”Make the Road, Follow the Road” 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm. Aomori Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「続いてゆく道に」”Make the Road, Follow the Road” 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm. Aomori Museum of Art
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「パンドラの箱」Pandora’s Box 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「パンドラの箱」”Pandora’s Box” 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Mein Kopf” 1991. Water color on paper, 63.5 x 49 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Mein Kopf” 1991. Water color on paper, 63.5 x 49 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”Untitled” 1991 Acylic on window glass with wood frame. 107 x 92 x 5 cm. Signed and dated ‚Yoshitomo Nara ’91‘. – Traces of studio and minor traces of age. (Sold at Lempertz 2021-6-17 for 225.000 Euro)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1991 Acylic on window glass with wood frame. 107 x 92 x 5 cm. Signed and dated ‘Yoshitomo Nara ’91’. – Traces of studio and minor traces of age. (Sold @ Lempertz 2021/6/17 for 225.000 Euro 2千900万円) ここに載せた写真とスクリーンショットは、すべて「好意によりクリエーティブ・コモン・センス」の文脈で、日本美術史の記録の為に発表致します。Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photos: cccs courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1991, back, signature, detail (screenshot from the website of Lempertz)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1991, back, 作品の裏側, signature, detail (screenshot from the website of Lempertz)

Yoshitomo Nara
“Untitled”
1991
Acylic on window glass with wood frame. 107 x 92 x 5 cm. Signed and dated ‘Yoshitomo Nara ’91’. – Traces of studio and minor traces of age.
(Text by Lempertz:)
In 1991, the year in which the work on offer was created, the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara was studying at the Kunstakademie in Dusseldorf under A.R. Penck. The influence of his teacher can be discerned in this early work which is reminiscent of a child’s drawing due to its highly simplified, sketch-like execution. It thus contrasts with Naras later paintings which are characterised by a smooth, flawless visual vocabulary.
The feeling of isolation that the young artist experienced, living in a foreign country for several years, and his confrontation with the unfamiliar environment are expressed in his art. In a nonverbal manner, he manages to give the viewer an insight into himself through his paintings and drawings, incorporating childhood memories and the visual vocabulary of Japanese children’s books. Even in his early works, he concentrates on isolated child figures who act in a kind of bubble without a defined environment. While these little protagonists are often characterised by emotions such as being lost, grief or anger, the present work conveys a feeling of optimism and insouciance.
Similar to the Manga comics of his Japanese homeland or street art, Nara repeatedly combines painting with elements of text. In this work, a window with a wooden frame that was adapted as an unconventional picture carrier, also evokes the rough character of street art. Nara’s use of text passages usually stem from rock or punk songs which he listens to during the artistic process. This music is a major source of inspiration for him; key issues such as rebellion and nonconformity are repeatedly found in his painting. In this case, however, he emphasises the pleasure of music and a positive basic attitude: ‘But nothing get[s] me down.’
Catalogue Raisonné
Yoshitomo Nara, The complete works, paintings, sculptures, editions, photographs, Vol. 1, San Francisco 2011, cat.rais. no. P-1991-016
Provenance
Directly from the artist; private collection, Rhineland-Palatinate
https://www.lempertz.com/en/catalogues/lot/1177-1/57-yoshitomo-nara.html

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「The Girl with the Knife in Her Hand」1991, Acrylic on canvas, 150.5 x 140.0 cm, Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan, fractional and promised gift to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “The Girl with the Knife in Her Hand” 1991. Acrylic on canvas, 150.5 x 140.0 cm. Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan, fractional and promised gift to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Lampflower Girl「ランプ・フラワー・ガール」1993. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in Yokohama Museum of Art 2012.
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Lamp Flower Girl”「ランプ・フラワー・ガール」1993. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in the Yokohama Museum of Art 2012.
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「地雷探知機」Mine Detector 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm. 高松市美術館寄託 : Entrusted to Takamatsu Art Museum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「地雷探知機」”Mine Detector” 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm. 高松市美術館寄託 / Entrusted to Takamatsu Art Museum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”Walk on I” 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 75 cm Private Collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Walk on I” 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 75 cm Private Collection (entrusted to Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
Yoshitomo Nara Harmless Kitty 1994 150x140cm acrylic on cotton 奈良美智 Harmless Kitty 1994 150 x 140 cm 綿布にアクリル
From the catalogue of “NICAF Yokohama 1995” (Asia’s largest contemporary art festival), page 104. Gallery “Shiraishi Contemporary Art Inc.” 白石コンテンポラリーアート exhibited for the first time a work by NARA at an art fair. In 2013 this painting had been purchased by “The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo” 東京国立近代美術館. “Yoshitomo Nara/Harmless Kitty: 1994/150x140cm/acrylic on cotton 奈良美智/Harmless Kitty: 1994/150×140 cm/綿布にアクリル

https://search.artmuseums.go.jp/records.php?sakuhin=191254

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Harmless Kitty 1994. 東京国立近代美術館 : The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo taken in April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Harmless Kitty” 1994. 東京国立近代美術館 / The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo taken April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Harmless Kitty 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm. 東京国立近代美術館 : The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo taken in April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Harmless Kitty” 1994. Acrylic on cotton, 150 x 140 cm. 東京国立近代美術館 / The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo taken April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Photo taken in April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Photo taken April 2014 in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
奈良美智 NARA Harmless Kitty 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm, detail 1
奈良美智 NARA “Harmless Kitty” 1994. Acrylic on cotton, 150 x 140 cm, detail
奈良美智 NARA Harmless Kitty 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm, detail 2
奈良美智 NARA “Harmless Kitty” 1994. Acrylic on cotton, 150 x 140 cm, detail
奈良美智 NARA Harmless Kitty 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm, detail 3
奈良美智 NARA “Harmless Kitty” 1994. Acrylic on cotton, 150 x 140 cm, detail
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「Harmless Kitty」1994. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Harmless Kitty” 1994. Acrylic on cotton, 150 x 140 cm. 東京国立近代美術館 The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo taken 2017 @ 奈良美智 “for better or worse” 個展 solo show 2017, 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
ステラ・マッカートニーと奈良美智のコラボ screenshot
ステラ・マッカートニーと奈良美智のコラボ, screenshot from Unisex’s Unisex website

check:
ステラ・マッカートニーと奈良美智のコラボ:Unisex Capsule
Stella McCartney Launches New Collection With NARA Yoshitomo: Unisex Capsule
https://art-culture.world/articles/nara-yoshitomo-stella-mccartney-奈良美智/

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1994 (no title 無題)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 1994. Acrylic on paper, 34.5 x 48.6 cm; frame: 45.6 x 59.6 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Dead Flower」1994, Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Dead Flower” 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「長い長い長い夜」 (The Longest Night) 1995, Acrylic on Canvas, 120 x 110 cm, The National Museum of Art, Osaka
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「長い長い長い夜」 (The Longest Night) 1995. Acrylic on Canvas, 120 x 110 cm. The National Museum of Art, Osaka
4NARA Yoshitomo solo show 奈良美智個展 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017, courtesy creative common sense
NARA Yoshitomo solo show 奈良美智個展 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017, courtesy creative common sense
Explaining the work The Longest Night Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles.
Explaining the work “The Longest Night”. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles.

NO ONE KNOWS

The Longest Night 1987 (Bee Gees)

We don’t talk about it, we got no doubt
We can love each other when the lights go out
I got nobody, my bird has flown
Anyone can see I’m walking alone, walking alone
In your quiet moments, in your silent prayer
I’ll be with you baby, I’ll be there
In your darkest hour, on your longest night
I’ll be with you baby, make it right
On your longest night
You know it breaks my heart and it hurts my pride
To know I lost you to the world outside
Feelings when you touch me, they rise and fall
Try to live without it, ain’t no love at all
We don’t talk about it but somebody knows
We can love each other when the candle glows
Open my eyes and the moment is gone
Anyone can see I’m walking alone, walking alone
In your darkest hour, on your longest night
I’ll be with you baby, make it right
Nobody cries, nobody cries, cries
For the pain I feel
Nobody knows, nobody knows
And it makes me wanna die
In your quiet moments, in your silent prayer
I’ll be with you baby, I’ll be there
In your darkest hour, on your longest night
I’ll be with you baby, make it right
On your longest night
Oh baby, so in love with you
It could be your longest night
Gonna be here all night, standing all night
Be your longest night
Gonna be here all night, standing all night, tonight

First solo show in America, L.A. 1995. Let’s try to figure out, what kind of personal catharsis Yoshitomo experienced in the young, very small gallery Blum & Poe, in which the exhibition “Pacific Babies” as a cognitive component gains new psychological insights.

Quotes from the interview in:

The Fundamental Emotions All Humans Possess
September 30, 2021

Tim Blum: When I walked into SCAI The Bathhouse, I remember very vividly one painting that they had leaning on the wall. It was of one of his figures, in a yellow bathtub with blue water, and he—it felt like the figure was a he—was wearing a red, hooded jumpsuit with two instruments in his hands. It was a small painting, probably around 24 x 20 inches, but I was immediately drawn to it. That was my first experience with the work in person, and it has not changed since. The whole experience with Nara is a subconscious, physical experience that I believe relates to one’s own personal story and narrative. Something about his work can universally tap into that part of a person, so your first attraction to the work is not to look at it as a painting in the traditional sense, but you have a more visceral reaction. When I lived in Japan, I learned to trust my instincts, and with Nara’s work I had that feeling right away. We did our first show in Los Angeles in 1995.

Interviewer: What was the first exhibition at Blum & Poe like, as well as Nara’s first experience in Los Angeles?

Yoshitomo Nara: Blum & Poe is now a big gallery in California, but at first, they were in a tiny space— like five meters by five meters. Tim had seen my show at SCAI The Bathhouse, and he reached out to me. He saw something in me that wasn’t limited to Japan, something international that went beyond words, and wanted to do something with me. So that first show in America was titled Pacific Babies because I went over the Pacific Ocean. I think that’s where my history as an artist, as perceived by everyone else, started. For the first time I went to a place where I had no footing, a place not in Europe nor in Japan. Because of this, I was able to feel like I could live the rest of my life as an artist on the faraway West Coast—perhaps because there wasn’t as much of the class to establish what constituted mainstream culture, underground, and subculture. Things just danced out in the open. I think that the underground culture gained more and more popularity and became pop culture there. That kind of history of the West Coast has a lot in common with the process of how I became an artist. That was the first place I was able to feel accepted. On the West Coast, art journals gave me coverage even though I was new, and there were other artists in California who liked my work, and I remember being very happy.

full text:
https://patronmagazine.com/the-fundamental-emotions-all-humans-possess/

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Silent Violence” 1995. Acrylic on paper, 49.5 x 36 cm. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles.
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Silent Violence” 1995. Acrylic on paper, 49.5 x 36 cm. Screenshot from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
Talking to Tim Blue
Talking to Tim Blum. Screenshot. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
Explaining the work There Is No Place Like Home 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 41 x 50 cm. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles.
Explaining the work “There Is No Place Like Home” 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 41 x 50 cm. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo There Is No Place Like Home 1995. Mixed media. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “There Is No Place Like Home” 1995. Mixed media. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo There Is No Place Like Home 1995. Mixed media, 25 x 120 x 40 cm. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “There Is No Place Like Home” 1995. Mixed media, 25 x 120 x 40 cm. Pics from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Where Is My Cat? 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 59.7 x 43.2 cm. Screenshot from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Where Is My Cat?” 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 59.7 x 43.2 cm. Screenshot from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Missing 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 59.7 x 41.3 cm. Screenshot from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Missing” 1995. Acrylic on canvas, 59.7 x 41.3 cm. Screenshot from the show “Pacific Babies” 1995 @ Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photo: cccs courtesy creative common sense

Let’s try to turn back the wheel of time.
At the beginning of Yoshitomo’s career, still eager to explain his works to a foreign audience, we are getting some hints about the blond girl, it’s his “Dorothy”.
The next protagonist, Yoshitomo as a young boy, who is rambling around in the night, his “Longest Night”. Let’s read the Bee Gees song:

“We don’t talk about it, we got no doubt
We can love each other when the lights go out
I got nobody, my bird has flown
Anyone can see I’m walking alone, walking alone
In your quiet moments, in your silent prayer
I’ll be with you baby, I’ll be there
In your darkest hour, on your longest night
I’ll be with you baby, make it right
On your longest night”

Then he’s talking about two elder brothers, 9 and 10 years older.
I will now assume that Yoshitomo experienced in his childhood a horrible, traumatic incident.

– A wooden, burning house.
– Around midnight.
– A (blond or ginger hair) girl, holding a flame.
– Burning hands.
– A girl with a knife.
– A girl with a cat.
– Silent violence.
– Bandages on the head.
– The right eye of the girl injured.
– Tears and sadness.
– A girl on a boat.
– A young woman at the harbour of a foreign country.
– A human torpedo/suicide craft.
– I’m sorry.

By looking at the early drawings and paintings, the following “hypothetical” questions evolve. What does the knife with the girl in reality mean? What happened to her? Why does he show a work titled “Silent Violence”? Has there been some incident about which (crying) Yoshitomo can’t talk?

NO ONE KNOWS.

Judy Garland as Dorothy
Judy Garland as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”

The Wizard of Oz – “There’s No Place Like Home” Magic Spell

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “In the Deepest Puddle II” 「深い深い水たまり II」1995. Acrylic on cotton mounted on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Takahashi Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “In the Deepest Puddle II” 「深い深い水たまり II」1995. Acrylic on cotton mounted on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Takahashi Collection

Regarding collector TAKAHASHI Ryutaro 高橋龍太郎, check his explanations (video) and his auction sale in 2015.

TAKAHASHICOLLECTION part3 0404 2 mov

Modern and Contemporary Asian Art Evening Sale, 04 October 2015 @ Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Property from the Collection of Dr. TAKAHASHI Ryutaro.
Lot 1064 Nara Yoshitomo “IN THE DARKLAND” 1999
Estimate 8,000,000 — 12,000,000 HKD
LOT SOLD. 12,080,000 HKD (Hammer Price with Buyer’s Premium)
https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/modern-contemporary-asian-art-evening-sale-hk0581/lot.1064.html

1aaaakoko
screenshot from Sotheby’s website
44
Screenshot from Sotheby’s website

Compare another auction sale by Japanese collector KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 @ Sotheby’s:

奈良美智 @ サザビーズ オークション You are not Alone – Yoshitomo Nara works from The Kurokochi collection, screenshot1
奈良美智 @ サザビーズ オークション You are not Alone – Yoshitomo Nara works from The Kurokochi collection, screenshot1
奈良美智 @ サザビーズ オークション You are not Alone – Yoshitomo Nara works from The Kurokochi collection, screenshot2
奈良美智 @ サザビーズ オークション You are not Alone – Yoshitomo Nara works from The Kurokochi collection, screenshot2

https://art-culture.world/articles/murakami-haruki-村上春樹-by-mario-ambrosius-mario-a-亜-真里男/

To get the big retrospective in Taipeh done, asking auction houses and galleries to tell the owners of Nara’s works.

yoshitomo nara‏ @michinara3 23 Jul 2015
来年の台北個展は、今までで一番大きい感じの回顧展になる。現在、販売したギャラリーやオークション会社を通じて、出品したい作品がどこにあるのかの確認作業をしている。ほとんどは協力的だけれども、非協力的なところもある。販売したらおしまい、で、買った側はいいのかな・・・。
Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/624032047942627329

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Screenshot from Twitter
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1996 (Don’t Disturb, 勉強中)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Do Not Disturb!” 1996. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 32.0 x 24.0. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo left ”Mumps” right “The Last Match” , both 1996. Acrylic on cotton mounted on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Aomori Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo left: “Mumps”, right: “The Last Match”, both 1996. Acrylic on cotton mounted on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Aomori Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Sitting) ” 1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Rubell Family Collection, Miami
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Sitting)” 1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Rubell Family Collection, Miami
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Standing)”「眠れない夜(立像)」1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in the Yokohama Museum of Art 2012
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Standing) ”2012.
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Standing)”「眠れない夜(立像)」1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in the Yokohama Museum of Art 2012
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sleepless Night (Standing)”「眠れない夜(立像)」1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm, detail. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in the Yokohama Museum of Art 2012
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled (after overpainting) ” 1987-1997. Acrylic on paper and wood, 89 x 63 x 8.5 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled (after overpainting)” 1987-1997. Acrylic on paper and wood, 89 x 63 x 8.5 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「青タン少女」The Girl with Black Eye 1999. Acrylic on canvas, 50.2 x 40.1 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「青タン少女」”The Girl with Black Eye” 1999. Acrylic on canvas, 50.2 x 40.1 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1999 (UKIYO-E)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, work on paper, 1999 (UKIYO-E)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Pup King” 2000, Acrylic on canvas, 124.5 x 149.9 cm @ BLUM & POE, Art Basel 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Pup King” 2000, Acrylic on canvas, 124.5 x 149.9 cm @ BLUM & POE, Art Basel 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「回天」Kaiten 2001. Acrylic on cotton mounted on FRP, Diam. 55 x 9.5 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in Yokohama Museum of Art 2012.
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「回天」”Kaiten” 2001. Acrylic on cotton mounted on FRP, Diam. 55 x 9.5 cm. Until 2013 KUROKOCHI Shun 黒河内 俊 collection. Sold 2013 @ Sotheby’s. Photo taken in Yokohama Museum of Art 2012.
NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智 “Fountain of Life” 2001-04 @ 奈良美智 for better or worse 個展 solo show 2017, 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, courtesy creative common sense
NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智 “Fountain of Life” 2001/04. Collection of Petch Osathanugrah @ 奈良美智 for better or worse 個展 solo show 2017, 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, courtesy creative common sense

This work exists in slightly alternated editions.
Title: “Fountain of Life”「生命之泉 (簡体)」, 2001/2014/2022. Lacquer and urethane on FRP, motor and water, Diam. 180 x 175 cm

NARA Yoshitomo solo show 奈良美智個展 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017, courtesy creative common sense
NARA Yoshitomo solo show 奈良美智個展 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017, courtesy creative common sense
Screenshot from michinara3 instagram
Screenshot from michinara3 instagram
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Light My Fire「ハートに火をつけて」2001. Acrylic and cotton on wood, 188 x 173 x 110 cm. MURAKAMI Takashi Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light My Fire”「ハートに火をつけて」2001. Acrylic and cotton on wood, 188 x 173 x 110 cm. From MURAKAMI Takashi Collection. Shown during NARA Yoshitomo’s solo show 奈良美智個展 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Light My Fire「ハートに火をつけて」2001. Acrylic and cotton on wood, 188 x 173 x 110 cm. shown in the MURAKAMI Takashi, Yokohama Museum Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light My Fire”「ハートに火をつけて」2001. Acrylic and cotton on wood, 188 x 173 x 110 cm. Exhibited in “Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Collection: From Shōhaku and Rosanjin to Anselm Kiefer” 2016 @ Yokohama Museum of Art
77
Screenshot from artnet. May 2008: “Murakami wasn’t on hand only to watch his own triumph – – he said he had no idea who bought the work – – but also to bid, as he won the final lot in the auction, Yoshitomo Nara’s ‘Light My Fire’ (2001), for $1,161,000, a price that is an auction record for a Nara sculpture.”

Hits and Misses at Sotheby’s Highest-Grossing Auction in Its History
May 15, 2008 by CultureGrrl
https://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2008/05/hits_and_misses_at_sothebys_hi.html
ART MARKET WATCH, May 15, 2008 @ artnet Magazine
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artmarketwatch/artmarketwatch5-15-08.asp

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「『アルゼンチンババア』のためのドローイング」Drawing for “Argentine Hag” 2002. Acrylic, colored pencil, pen, and fabric on canvas board, etc. (15 pieces)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「『アルゼンチンババア』のためのドローイング」Drawing for “Argentine Hag” 2002. Acrylic, colored pencil, pen, and fabric on canvas board, etc. (15 pieces)

“Argentine Baba” 「アルゼンチンババア (ARGENTINE HAG)」is a novel written by YOSHIMOTO Banana in 2002. Illustrations by NARA Yoshitomo.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/アルゼンチンババア

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Daydreamer” 2003, Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 157.5 x 137 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Daydreamer” 2003. Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, 157.5 x 137 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo My Drawing Room
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “My Drawing Room” 2004〜2020. Installation (mixed media), 312 x 200 x 448 cm @ Hara Museum, Tokyo. Collection 原美術館ARC / Hara Museum ARC. Relocated to Hara Museum ARC (Gunma) in 2021. Cooperation provided by graf
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo v
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Missing in Action—Girl Meets Boy—” 2005. Acrylic, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, 150 x 137; frame: 150 x 137 cm. 広島市現代美術館 / Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo, from left: “Under the Tree” 2006, colored pencil and acrylic on cardboard, 30.5 x 23.8 cm; “Too Drunk to Figure Out” 2006, colored pencil and acrylic on cardboard, 53.5 x 46.0 cm; “I’m a Son of a Gun” 2006, colored pencil and acrylic on cardboard, 68.0 x 46.2 cm, all artist collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”Home” 2017. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Home” 2017. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”From the Bomb Shelter” 「从防空洞出来 (簡体) 」 2017. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “From the Bomb Shelter” 「从防空洞出来 (簡体) 」 2017. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”Emergency” 2013. Acrylic on wood, 211 x 186 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Emergency” 2013. Acrylic on wood, 211 x 186 cm @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) Voyage of the Moon 2006 1
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Installed @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) Voyage of the Moon 2006
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Installed @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) Voyage of the Moon 2006 3
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Girl on the Boat” 1994. Acrylic on wood, 52 x 15 x 30 cm. 豊田市美術館 / Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) Voyage of the Moon 2006 4
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Installed @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo1
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm, inside. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Installed @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017
NOW I’M SHITTY OLD MAN! SO FUCK YOU!
NOW I’M SHITTY OLD MAN! SO FUCK YOU!
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo3
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006
THE WIZARD OF OZ JUDY GARLAND
THE WIZARD OF OZ JUDY GARLAND
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo4
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006
Fuckin‘ Town
Fuckin’ Town
Kanazawa Moon Mix 1-22
Kanazawa Moon Mix 1-22
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, installed at the Mori Art Museum 2020
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo graf Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, installed at the Mori Art Museum 2020
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo + graf “Voyage of the Moon (Resting Moon) / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Installation (mixed media), 476 x 354 x 495 cm, inside. 金沢21世紀美術館 / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, installed at the Mori Art Museum 2020
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo ”Lonely Moon Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Acrylic on cotton mounted on FRP, Diam. 180 x 26 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Lonely Moon / Voyage of the Moon” 2006. Acrylic on cotton mounted on FRP, Diam. 180 x 26 cm. 金沢21世紀美術館 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Mori Art Museum 2020)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo After the Acid Rain 「酸雨过后 (簡体) 」2006, detail. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “After the Acid Rain” 2006, detail. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo After the Acid Rain 「酸雨过后 (簡体) 」2006. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “After the Acid Rain” 2006. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo White Night 2006 Acrylic on canvas, 162.5 x 130 cm. Collection of Leo Shih
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “White Night” 2006 Acrylic on canvas, 162.5 x 130 cm. Collection of Leo Shih
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Cloudy 2006. Acrylic on canvas, 81 x 65 cm @ Blum & Poe, Art Basel 2013
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Cloudy” 2006. Acrylic on canvas, 81 x 65 cm @ Blum & Poe, Art Basel 2013, sold for 250.000 US$.
Blum & Poe booth @ Art Basel 2013
Blum & Poe booth @ Art Basel 2013
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Sprout the Ambassador 2007 Acrylic on canvas, 117 x 91 cm. Private collection, owned by Damgaard Company AS
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sprout the Ambassador” 2007. Acrylic on canvas, 117 x 91 cm. Private collection, owned by Damgaard Company A/S
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Sprout the Ambassador 2007 Acrylic on canvas, 117 x 91 cm, detail. Private collection, owned by Damgaard Company AS
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Sprout the Ambassador” 2007. Acrylic on canvas, 117 x 91 cm, detail. Private collection, owned by Damgaard Company A/S
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「おたふく0号」(OTAFUKU No.0 (Moon-faced Woman No.0)) 2007, Ceramic, 112.5 x 125 x 138 cm @ Blum & Poe
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「おたふく0号」(OTAFUKU No.0 (Moon-faced Woman No.0)) 2007. Ceramic, 112.5 x 125 x 138 cm @ Blum & Poe, Art Basel 2018
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo California Orange Covered Wagon 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “California Orange Covered Wagon” 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo California Orange Covered Wagon 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 1. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “California Orange Covered Wagon” 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 1. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo California Orange Covered Wagon 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 2. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “California Orange Covered Wagon” 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 2. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo California Orange Covered Wagon 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 3. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “California Orange Covered Wagon” 2008. Installation (acrylic on wood, recovered windows and table, metal) , 243.8 x 315.0 x 464.8 cm, detail 3. MURAKAMI Takashi 村上隆 Collection
9 music titles chosen for YOKOHAMA MUSEUM 村上さん SUPERFLAT
9 Japanese music titles chosen for “YOKOHAMA MUSEUM 村上さん SUPERFLAT”
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Fire” 2009. Acrylic on wood, 90 x 90 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Fire” 2009. Acrylic on wood, 90 x 90 cm. Private Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 2011 Acrylic on found signboard (diptych) Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm @ Edward Tyler Nahem
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” 2011. Acrylic on found signboard (diptych). Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm @ Edward Tyler Nahem, Art Basel 2022
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 2011 Acrylic on found signboard (diptych) Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” 2011. Acrylic on found signboard (diptych). Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 2011 Acrylic on found signboard (diptych) Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm, detail @ Edward Tyler Nahem
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” 2011. Acrylic on found signboard (diptych). Left 159.4 x 87.6 x 5.1 cm, right 161.3 x 88.9 x 5.1 cm, detail @ Edward Tyler Nahem

check:
https://art-culture.world/articles/art-basel-2022/

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「真夜中の巡礼者」 Midnight Pilgrim 2012. Bronze with black patina, 158 x 58 x 64 cm, Edition 3, A.P. 2. Shown at Art Basel 2013
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「真夜中の巡礼者」 “Midnight Pilgrim” 2012. Bronze with black patina, 158 x 58 x 64 cm, Edition 3, A.P. 2. Shown at Art Basel 2013
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 夜まで待てない Can’t Wait ‘till the Night Comes 2010 アクリル、カンヴァス Acrylic on Canvas @ NARA Yoshitomo 個展 solo show 2017 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「夜まで待てない」(“Can’t Wait ’til the Night Comes” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 197 x 182.5 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 for better or worse 個展 solo show @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art 2017, courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “for better or worse”個展 solo show 2017 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
NARA Yoshitomo solo show 奈良美智個展 2017 展示風景 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “for better or worse” 個展 solo show 2017 @ 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ブランキー」 (Blankey (English) ; 布兰奇 (簡体) ) 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 194.8 x 162 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ブランキー」”Blankey” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 194.8 x 162 cm. Private collection
会田誠
2012年、横浜美術館の個展。奈良美智の挨拶スピーチ (と会田誠)Solo exhibition @ Yokohama Art Museum 2012. Opening speech by NARA Yoshitomo (blue T-Shirt: artist AIDA Makoto)
NARA Yoshitomo: a bit like you and me… 奈良美智:君や僕にちょっと似ている @ Yokohama Museum of Art 横浜美術館 2012
NARA Yoshitomo: a bit like you and me… 奈良美智:君や僕にちょっと似ている @ Solo show Yokohama Museum of Art 横浜美術館の個展 2012
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo White Ghost 2010 Urethane on FRP, 265 x 259.1 x 243.8 cm, Ed. 2, A.P. 1. Collection Des Moines Art Center (Ed. 2:2) ; The Gateway Foundation (A.P. 1)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “White Ghost” 2010. Urethane on FRP, 265 x 259.1 x 243.8 cm, Ed. 2, A.P. 1. Collection Des Moines Art Center (Ed. 2/2) ; The Gateway Foundation (A.P. 1)
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」Julien 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」”Julien” 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」Julien 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm, detail1. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」”Julien” 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm, detail1. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」Julien 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm, detail2. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo 「ジュリアン」”Julien” 2012. Acrylic on jute mounted on wood, 180.5 x 160.5 x 4.8 cm, detail2. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. 横浜美術館 : The Yokohama Museum of Art photo taken in 2015
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. 横浜美術館 / The Yokohama Museum of Art, photo taken in 2015
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Detail
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012, detail
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Detail
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012, detail
Blum & Poe page in the Art Basel 2013 catalogue. 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Bought by The Yokohama Museum of Art 横浜美術館
Blum & Poe page in the Art Basel 2013 catalogue. 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo「春少女」”Miss Spring” 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 227 x 182 cm. Bought by The Yokohama Museum of Art 横浜美術館
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Wounded 2014 Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Wounded” 2014. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo No Means No 「不行就是不行 (簡体) 」2014. Acrylic on canvas, 131 x 97 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “No Means No” 2014. Acrylic on canvas, 131 x 97 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo xx
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “M.I.A.” 2016. Acrylic on canvas, 100.5 x 91 cm. Private collection

[AC] ミッシングインアクション M.I.A Missing in Action

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Miss Margaret 2016. Acrylic on canvas, 194 x 162 cm. The Rachofsky Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Miss Margaret” 2016. Acrylic on canvas, 194 x 162 cm. The Rachofsky Collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Dead of Night 「夜深人静 (簡体) 」2016. Acrylic on canvas, 100.5 x 91 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Dead of Night” 2016. Acrylic on canvas, 100.5 x 91 cm. Private collection
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Midnight Surprise 2017. Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 116.5 cm. Collection of Lisa and Steven Tananbaum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Midnight Surprise” 2017. Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 116.5 cm. Collection of Lisa and Steven Tananbaum
NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智 Midnight Surprise, 2017, detail @ 奈良美智 for better or worse 個展 solo show 2017, 豊田市美術館 Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, courtesy creative common sense
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Midnight Surprise” 2017. Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 116.5 cm, detail. Collection of Lisa and Steven Tananbaum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Midnight Truth 2017. Acrylic on canvas, 227.3 x 181.8 cm. The National Gallery of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Midnight Truth” 2017. Acrylic on canvas, 227.3 x 181.8 cm. The National Gallery of Art
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Not Yet Titled” 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Not Yet Titled” 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 220 x 195 cm (right, on the left:) 石川順惠 ISHIKAWA Yukie “Impermanence – Oboroyo” 2019, Acrylic and sand on canvas, 228 x 200 cm @ BLUM & POE, Art Basel 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Not Yet Titled” 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 220 x 195 cm, sold for US$ 2 million (= 約2億1千700万円)@ BLUM & POE, Art Basel 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Not Yet Titled” 2019. Acrylic on canvas, 220 x 195 cm, sold for US$ 2 million (2019年 = 約2億1千700万円)@ BLUM & POE, Art Basel 2019
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Miss Moonlight 2020 Acrylic on canvas, 245 x 222 cm. Collection 森美術館 Mori Art Museum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Miss Moonlight” 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 245 x 222 cm. Collection 森美術館 Mori Art Museum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Miss Moonlight 2020 Acrylic on canvas, 245 x 222 cm, detail. Collection 森美術館 Mori Art Museum
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Miss Moonlight” 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 245 x 222 cm, detail. Collection 森美術館 Mori Art Museum
Ashley
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Untitled” 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 110 x 4.8 cm with Blum & Poe director and friend Ashley Rawlings

https://art-culture.world/articles/ashley/

up-date 2022/10/6

NARA Yoshitomo in Stella McCartney Summer 2023 Runway, Paris

Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer 2023 Paris, 1:5
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer Collection 2023, Paris
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer 2023 Paris, 2:5
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer Collection 2023, Paris
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer 2023 Paris, 3:5
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer Collection 2023, Paris
NARA Yoshitomo Harmless Kitty 1994
NARA Yoshitomo “Harmless Kitty” 1994
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer 2023 Paris, 4:5
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer Collection 2023, Paris
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer 2023 Paris, 5:5
Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara join creative forces again, with the legendary Japanese artist’s work featured in the designer’s Summer Collection 2023, Paris

Please keep in mind, up-dates will occur constantly. Further archival materials regarding Yoshitomo’s world will be posted below.

BT magazine 美術手帖 2012.09 vol.64 No.973. 特集 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Special
BT magazine 美術手帖 2012.09 vol.64 No.973. 特集 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Special Issue
NO NUKES with NARA Yoshitomo in BT magazine 美術手帖 2012.09 vol.64 No.973. 特集 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Special
Article about NO NUKES with NARA Yoshitomo in BT magazine 美術手帖 2012.09 vol.64 No.973. 特集 奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Special Issue
温泉対談再び pages 86-7 Talk between NARA Yoshitomo and MURAKAMI Takashi in an Onsen (Spa)
温泉対談再び pages 86-7 Talk between NARA Yoshitomo and MURAKAMI Takashi in an Onsen (Spa) for BT. ここに載せた写真とスクリーンショットは、すべて「好意によりクリエーティブ・コモン・センス」の文脈で、日本美術史の記録の為に発表致します。Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photos: cccs courtesy creative common sense
Left NARA Yoshitomo and MURAKAMI Takashi in an Onsen (Spa) . Courtesy BT Magazine. Right AERA Cover
Left: NARA Yoshitomo and MURAKAMI Takashi in an Onsen (Spa). Courtesy BT Magazine. Right: AERA Cover 2012/8/27 ここに載せた写真とスクリーンショットは、すべて「好意によりクリエーティブ・コモン・センス」の文脈で、日本美術史の記録の為に発表致します。Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photos: cccs courtesy creative common sense
Asahi Shimbun Weekly AERA 2012.8.27 pages 34-5
Asahi Shimbun Weekly AERA 2012.8.27, pages 34-5
OZ magazine September 2012, pages 52-3
OZ magazine, September 2012, pages 52-3
YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 4
YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 5
YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 2
YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 3
YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 1

2019年6月20日開催「奈良美智トークイベント:シリア難民の生活を体験」(ジャパン・プラットフォーム JPF×ART Project)

奈良美智@中日新聞愛知県西部の社会面
奈良美智@中日新聞愛知県西部の社会面

check:
2020/10/7
今日のアート・ニュース:豊田市が奈良美智新作、ポーラ美術館がゲルハルト・リヒター作を購入
Today’s Art News: City of Toyota Buys New Painting by NARA Yoshitomo, Pola Museum Acquires Gerhard Richter Painting
https://art-culture.world/articles/nara-yoshitomo-gerhard-richter-奈良美智-豊田市/

YOSHITOMO NARA 奈良美智 7
Screenshot from Focus Taiwan website.
Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photos: cccs courtesy creative common sense
NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智 @ 読売新聞夕刊 YOMIURI Newspaper
NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智 @ 読売新聞夕刊 YOMIURI Newspaper Evening Edition 2022/9/13
美術の道 家賃1万円から The way to art, starting with a room’s rent of 10.000 Yen

2022/11/17 up-date

The Now Evening Auction @ Sotheby’s New York, 16 November 2022

Lot 8

Yoshitomo Nara
Light Haze Days / Study 
signed and dated 2020 (on the reverse) 
acrylic on canvas 
86 ⅝ by 76 ¾ in.
220 by 195 cm.
Executed in 2020.

Estimate:
9,000,000 – 12,000,000 USD
Lot sold: 11,929,400 USD

Description
Property from an Esteemed Private Collection
Yoshitomo Nara
b. 1959

知名私人收藏
奈良美智
生於1959年
《朦朧之日/習作》

款識︰藝術家簽名並紀年2020(背面)
壓克力彩畫布
86 ⅝ x 76 ¾ 英寸
220 x 195 公分
2020年作

Provenance
Blum & Poe, Los Angeles
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Exhibited
Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, Yoshitomo Nara, April 2021-January 2022
Shanghai, Yuz Museum, Yoshitomo Nara, March 2022-January 2023

Literature
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Virtual Conversation with Yoshitomo Nara and Mika Yoshitake, 11 October 2020, illustrated in color (video)
Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Insider, Vol. 14, Iss. 1, Winter 2021, p. 64, illustrated in color (detail), p.65, illustrated in color (photographed with the artist)
Zhang Kun, “A Master’s Works Give Art Emotional Depth,” China Daily, 11 July 2022, illustrated in color (installed in Yuz Museum) (online)
Bijutsu Shuppan Sha & Yoshitomo Nara, Yoshitomo Nara: Catalogue Raisonné, Tokyo 2011-ongoing, no. YNF6765, illustrated in color (online)

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-now-evening-auction-5/light-haze-days-study-2

奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo Light Haze Days 2020, screenshot from Sotheby’s
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 / screenshot from Sotheby’s website, see also the next ones
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 -1
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 / screenshot from Sotheby’s website, see also the next ones
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 -2
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 / screenshot from Sotheby’s website, see also the next one
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 -3
奈良美智 NARA Yoshitomo “Light Haze Days” 2020 / screenshot from Sotheby’s website
Twitter Screenshot
Twitter Screenshot

Kelly Crow (Wall Street Journal) on Twitter 2022/11/17
Wendy Lin, who reps Taiwan, wins this (cough) two-year-old Yoshitomo Nara for $10.1m hammer or $11.9m with fees over its $9 million low estimate
@sothebys
Sotheby’s confirms that it went to Asia.
Link_https://twitter.com/KellyCrowWSJ/status/1593024162138050560

up-date 2022/11/21

yoshitomo nara / 奈良美智
@michinara3

Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1594471712107601920

2006年、生まれてから高校時代までを過ごした弘前での展覧会期間中に人に紹介されて行った食堂の扉に描いたもの。オークションに出てた。

僕は人が思う以上にある時期からずっと人間不信です。嫌なことは忘れやすい性格なのだけど、時々こういうのがあると人が思う以上に落ち込みます。
Translated from Japanese by Google
In 2006, during an exhibition in Hirosaki, where I spent my life from birth to high school, I drew this on the door of a cafeteria that was introduced to someone. went to auction.

I’ve been distrustful of people since a certain time, more than people think. I tend to forget bad things, but sometimes I get depressed more than people think when something like this happens.

Nara Door Auction
Nara Door Auction 2
NARA Yoshitomo
Untitled Work by NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智, signed with “Nara 2006.22.NOV.”, detail, screenshot from Twitter

Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1594471712107601920/photo/1

人を信じて何回裏切られたか数え切れない〜〜〜😭
I can’t count how many times I trusted people and was betrayed~~~ 😭
8:33 AM · Nov 21, 2022
Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1594474012645543937

27
21 Nov 2022
スイッチインタビュー Eテレ with 奈良美智, 21 Nov 2022

yoshitomo nara / 奈良美智
@michinara3, 6:46 PM · Dec 3, 2022
母に泊まる電話したら「布団を敷いておく」と言っていたが、大丈夫かなぁ。忘れてないかなぁ。けっこう痴呆気味なんです。それか布団の下じきになってないか?
Link_https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1598976933936893953

奈良美智
July 2023

Up-date 2023/8/13, taken from:

アート・バーゼル、壮麗さへの回帰 (アーティストたちによって裸にされたアート・バーゼル、さえも*) 2023年度
ART BASEL – The Return to its Grandeur (ART BASEL Stripped Bare by Her Artists, Even*) 2023 version
https://art-culture.world/articles/art-basel-2023/

For my Japanese readers I would like to show how two Japanese artists got into the print media during Art Basel.
1. NARA Yoshitomo 奈良美智

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, focussing on Art Basel. NARA Yoshitomo on the cover of the Sonderbeilage Extra Edition, 12th April 2023
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), focussing on Art Basel. NARA Yoshitomo on the cover of the “Sonderbeilage” Extra Edition, 12th June 2023

From the website of the Albertina Museum: “Yoshitomo Nara | Miss Margaret, 2016 | Private Collection, United States of America © Yoshitomo Nara | Foto: Yoshitomo Nara”

Japanische Superstar Yoshitomo Nara
“Japanische Superstar Yoshitomo Nara”

Actual solo show until 1st November 2023 @ Albertina Museum Wien, ALBERTINA MODERN

Interestingly, not BLUM & POE, but Pace Gallery is being mentioned twice on the website of the Albertina Museum.
“Yoshitomo Nara | Drawing for “Hardboiled / Hard Luck” | Collection of the artist Courtesy Pace Gallery © Yoshitomo Nara | Foto: Yoshitomo Nara”

Yoshitomo Nara
All My Little Words

https://www.albertina.at/en/albertina-modern/exhibitions/yoshitomo-nara/

YOSHITOMO NARA. ALL MY LITTLE WORDS | ALBERTINA MODERN
4,017 views May 22, 2023
“Mich fasziniert an Yoshitomo Naras Werken diese Punk-Attitüde”, sagt Kuratorin Elsy Lahner über die Ausstellung des japanischen Künstlers in der ALBERTINA MODERN.

Yoshitomo Nara (*1959) zählt weltweit zu den bekanntesten Künstlerinnen und Künstlern seiner Generation. Ab den 1990er-Jahren erlangt er mit seinen „Angry Girls“, stark stilisierten Mädchendarstellungen mit grimmigem Blick, Vampirzähnen oder Messer in der Hand, internationale Aufmerksamkeit.

YOSHITOMO NARA. ALL MY LITTLE WORDS
401 views Jun 16, 2023
How did YOSHITOMO NARA develop his childlike, emotional characters? What was his artistic process? The artist, Yoshitomo Nara, himself answers these questions in our video about the exhibition.

TRUE ORIGIN: Yoshitomo Nara
18,210 views Jan 18, 2021
Yoshitomo Nara is a Japanese artist. He lives and works in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, though his artwork has been exhibited worldwide. He started in the 1990s Japan pop-culture and later became associated with the Superflat movement, collaborating with Chiho Aoshima and Takashi Murakami. His sculptures and paintings focus on such innocent subjects (often pastel-hued children and animals drawn with confident, cartoonish lines) with little or no background.


Azabudai Hills Artist Introduction|奈良美智
森ビル株式会社, Aug 18, 2023
奈良美智は、日本の現代アート界を代表するアーティストのひとりです。
目を閉じた《東京の森の子》は、アンテナを天高く伸ばし、宇宙と交信しているようにも、森の精として自然界の平安を祈っている ようにも見えます。天空に向けて円錐状に立ち上がる本作は、2011年の東日本大震災の悲しみから、創造活動を再開する契機ともなった《ミス樅の子》(2012年)に続き、2016年以来、青森、那須塩原、ロサンゼルスなどに恒久設置されている《森の子》シリーズの8体目。都内に常設される奈良の野外彫刻としては初めてです。
粘土で作った原形をブロンズで鋳造し、ウレタン塗装を施した表面には、奈良の指跡が鮮やかに残り、作家の身体性や情動がリアルに伝わってきます。心の奥底に刻み込まれた記憶、感性、直感のままに制作されたこのシリーズには、奈良自身の葛藤、世界平和への願い、希望などが折り重なり、私たちの心の奥底に話しかけてくるようです。

https://hillslife.jp/art/2023/08/18/yoshitomonara/

Screenshot from Hills Life website
Screenshot from Hills Life website

麻布台ヒルズにこんなアートがやって来る! ——片岡真実・森美術館館長インタビュー

麻布台ヒルズの中央広場をはじめ、オフィスタワーやレジデンスタワー内にアート作品が恒久的に置かれることになった。その作品選定を手がけた森美術館の館長、片岡真実さんにセレクトの意図を伺った

https://hillslife.jp/art/2023/08/08/artworks-for-azabudai-hills/

Up-date 2023/10/8

NHK日曜美術館
NHK日曜美術館

海外の著名な美術館(LACMAやアルベルティ―ナ)で個展しても、NHKの日曜美術館ではやってもらえない。幾人かの日本の現存作家は取り上げられて、ホントに彼らが羨ましい。そんなに自分は国内ではダメなのかと思ってしまう、ことはない。で、これでもう決めた。脱日曜美術館!
Even if I had a solo exhibition at a famous overseas museum (LACMA or Albertina), I would not be able to have it shown at NHK’s NICHI-YO-BIJUTSUKAN (NHK Sunday Art Museum TV Program). Several current Japanese artists have been featured, and I’m really jealous of them. I have never felt so bad that I am not good enough in Japan. And now I’ve decided. Against/STOP NHK NICHI-YO-BIJUTSUKAN (NHK Sunday Art Museum TV Program)!

Up-date: 977.3K Views

https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1710671578093203591

弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館1
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館1
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館2
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館2
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館3
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館3
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館4
弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展@県立美術館4
NARA Yoshitomo exhibition view 2023 @ Aomori Prefecture Art Museum
NARA Yoshitomo exhibition view 2023 @ Aomori Prefecture Art Museum
NARA Yoshitomo Midnight Tears 2023 @ Aomori Prefecture Art Museum
NARA Yoshitomo “Midnight Tears” 2023 @ Aomori Prefecture Art Museum

弘前市出身アーティスト奈良美智さん個展14日から県立美術館
10月13日 18時01分
弘前市出身のアーティスト、奈良美智さんの個展が青森県立美術館で14日から開かれます。
これを前に内覧会や奈良さんの記者会見が行われました。

孤独にたたずむ鋭いまなざしの子どもの絵画などで知られる弘前市出身のアーティスト、奈良美智さんの個展が14日から青森県立美術館で始まるのを前に、13日は報道関係者などに向けた内覧会が開かれました。

今回の個展は、県立美術館単独での開催で、奈良さんの創作の原点に迫ろうと、「家」や「旅」など5つのテーマに分けて展示が構成され、初期から最近制作された作品までおよそ200点が展示されます。

このうち、「カッチョのある風景」は1979年に制作された現存する数少ない奈良さんの最初期の油彩画で、展覧会への出展は今回が初めてとなり、質素な家屋や風や雪を防ぐ「カッチョ」と呼ばれる木製の柵が描かれるなど津軽地方の風景が表現されています。

また、高校3年生のときに建設作業に関わった弘前市にあったロック喫茶を、奈良さんの記憶などを元に再現した空間の展示なども設けられていて、奈良さんの原点を感じさせる内容となっています。

奈良さんは記者会見の中で「青森県立美術館は、自分の家みたいな感じなので、今回の企画展は自分の内部や部屋を見せるような展示になっている。作品の量も多いので、全部見て欲しい」と話していました。

また「開催時期が雪の期間と重なっているのはとてもうれしくて、ここでしか開かないと決めたのは、自分が見た風景や吸っていた空気がある場所で見て欲しいからだ。駅や空港に着いたときからその人の旅は始まっていて、空気、風景、すべてと一体になって美術館に入ってほしい」と話していました。

「奈良美智:The Beginning Placeここから」は、青森県立美術館で14日から来年2月25日まで開かれます。

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/aomori/20231013/6080020822.html

2023年10月8日
2023年10月8日

ここに載せた写真とスクリーンショットは、すべて「好意によりクリエーティブ・コモン・センス」の文脈で、日本美術史の記録の為に発表致します。Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works photos: cccs courtesy creative common sense