The Guggenheim Bilbao will soon present a retrospective exhibition on acclaimed Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara. Known for his cheerful manga-style characters, Nara is one of the most important artists from his home nation over the past 50 years, using his harmless subject matter as an approachable means to discuss real world issues — from the threats of nuclear warfare to the climate emergency.
Organized by theme, the eponymously titled exhibition explores Nara's shape-shifting interests, the origins of his ideas, as well as the artist's conceptual processes. Born in the small castle town of Hirosaki, Aomori in 1959, much of Nara's early conception of the outside world came in the form of music. He'd venture far from his rural village to collect his favorite records as postcards to the outside world. From his earliest days to the present, Nara, 64, imbues his love for music throughout his paintings and illustrations of big-headed girls whose slight facial grimaces nod at his rebellious years protesting the Vietnam War and Cold War, which bears a similar sentiment within today's socio-political landscape.
On view is a selection of paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations made between 1984 and 2024, reflecting the artist's empathetic response to the people and places he has encountered. Curated by Lucía Agirre and presented by the BBVA Foundation, the exhibition will open on June 28 and run through November 3, 2024.
Guggenheim Bilbao
Abandoibarra Etorb., 2,
Abando, 48009 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
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