Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's Fool
Asia Society presents a major exhibition of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959), one of the most influential and internationally renowned Neo Pop artists working today. The exhibition comprises 20 years of paintings, sculpture, drawings, and large-scale installations.
Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's Fool draws connections between the artist's work and the sensibilities of youth subcultures worldwide, focusing on themes of alienation and rebellion, particularly in relation to rock and punk music. The graphic nature of Nara's art recalls the lyrics of rock groups such as Nirvana, The Doors, and The Ramones, and his art has inspired a cult following among youth throughout Asia.
Asia Society's exhibition includes more than 100 works from Nara's early period to recent years. Many of these have never been exhibited in the United States. In addition, the exhibition will include a newly commissioned installation that is the result of collaboration by Nara, designer Hideki Toyoshima, and their team from Japan—working together as a group called YNG. Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's Fool is cocurated by Melissa Chiu, Asia Society Museum Director, and Miwako Tezuka, Associate Curator, Asia Society.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated book, published by Asia Society Museum in association with Abrams, New York, featuring over 250 full-color illustrations, an extensive interview with the artist, and English translations of the artist's Japanese blog.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Art Production Fund, in association with Asia Society, presents two large-scale outdoor sculptures by Nara that will be placed near the entrances to Asia Society and Park Avenue Armory, where Nara and the YNG team held an Open Studio in late August. White Ghost is on view from September 7 through early November.
Shop AsiaStore for the exhibition catalogue
Complete list of Nara-related performances, lectures, and film screenings
Share the Nara experience online:
Tweet: #YoshitomoNara
Flickr: YoshitomoNara
