Untitled

2002

Color pencil onto soft polish engraving on Rives paper

76 x 57 cm

Signed lower right the character of Na in Japanese and dated 2002+2005, numbered 16/18

Estimate
1,400,000 - 2,000,000
341,000 - 488,000
43,800 - 62,500
Sold Price
1,416,000
327,021
42,218

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2008 Taipei

302

Yoshitomo NARA (Japanese, b. 1959)

Untitled


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This painting is to be sold with a certiicate of authenticity issued by Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo

Catalogue Note:

Yoshitomo Nara studied in the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts. After graduation he moved to Koln, where he began to create and announce large paintings and sculptures. In August 2000, Nara left Germany, and this was the time when the quantity of his creation grew. Expelled by the Tokyo Musashino Academy of Art, he graduated from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music and then studied abroad in Germany, Yoshitomo Nara grew up in post- world war II Japanese society; this was the time when Japan greatly absorbed Western cultures, especially pop culture. In his junior high school days, Yoshitomo listened to a great deal of music by some icons , such as The Clash, David Bowie etc. Images on 70s record sleeves in some way became the foundation of his aesthetics and images. His creations from the 90s also carry the punk essence of the 80s, delivering a message of "rebellion".

Japanese writer, Banana Yoshimoto had the chance to collaborate with Yoshitomo Nara, she describes his work as: "an ice- cold world built by deep feelings of remorse and loneliness, but Yoshitomo Nara's heart is definitely not evil. And I would definitely rather live in a world like this." Characters created by Nara often carry a dismissive or even malicious look, but Nara's works always have a hidden aura or hints, this brought his commercial works into the ield of contemporary art, even into museum collections. We have to admit that the mushroom-headed children who wish to speak but don't on a second thought indeed make us steeped in thought. And the loneliness revealed in their eyes also relect the inner selves in you and me.


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