Yoshitomo Nara Exhibition
Marianne Boesky Gallery 24th Street
This event has ended.
For this exhibition, Yoshitomo Nara couples new paintings and drawings with large-scale sculptures created with his collaborative group, YNG. Nara has worked together with YNG (formally known as Yoshitomo Nara + graf) over the past six years on solo exhibitions in Osaka, Seoul, Jakarta, The Hague, Berlin, Málaga, and Gateshead, amongst others.
Constructed from reclaimed wood, the forms of the two immense sculptures recall stylized tannenbaums, with their roof shingling evoking exaggerated tree needles. Small cut-out windows and hanging lights punctuate the sculptures, providing them with the feel of a house or some surreal abode. The structures are hollow and present interiors replete with drawings and paintings all created in the artist's hand, and with a multitude of stuffed animals from fans selected by the artist. Though Nara has previously exhibited these types of moveable spaces before, the dwellings in this exhibition have a quieted sentiment to them. Each object within feels carefully considered in its placement. The frenzy of personal effects including photographs, cd's and beer cans, all evoking the turmoil and inspiration in the artist studio, has been removed. Instead the stillness of the structures, with their looming spires, presents a protective shell to the interiors. Though possible to peer into the structures and glimpse their holdings, they cannot be entered and the viewer must be content to remain on the exterior.
The paintings, rendered on both canvas and wooden billboards, depict lone portraits of dreamy-eyed figures. Pencil and colored pencil drawings on found envelopes and discarded papers similarly parse the psychological landscape of their subjects.
Media
Schedule
from February 28, 2009 to March 28, 2009
Opening Reception on 2009-02-28 from 18:00 to 20:00
Live music by OORUTAICHI, M.A.G.O. and others, begins at 7.00 pm
Artist(s)
Reviews
Yoshitomo Nara at Marianne Boesky
The Japanese Pop star opened a new exhibition of paintings and sculptures on Saturday night.