Yoshitomo Nara

★質感布紋精裝！值得珍藏
★收錄奈良美智最新創作、私人攝影與工作室照片
 
　　本書回顧奈良美智橫跨四十年的創作歷程，以不同的主題作為分類，完整呈現這位藝術家的創作概念與歷程。作者們探討奈良美智在日本的成長背景、對環境與社會的關懷如何影響了他的創作美學，同時深入解析其作品，並討論他從流行音樂中獲得的靈感。
 
　　書中並收錄了輔以童年與工作室照片的詳盡年表，引領讀者深入了解奈良美智的人生與藝術。

More than a mere survey of Nara’s signature children and animals, this clothbound publication features the artist’s newest works, personal photographs and pictures of his studio

Spanning four decades of work, this book offers readers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the personal and creative world of the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, best known for his bold images of children with large heads and wide eyes that challenge viewers with their direct gaze and defiant stance. These captivating yet ominous characters are part of a wider visual vocabulary established by Nara to explore and communicate themes of home, isolation, resilience, belonging, regeneration, hope and freedom. Organized thematically, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution and breadth of Nara’s artistic expression. Yeewan Koon explores how Nara’s singular aesthetic is drawn from his formative experiences in Japan, as well as his ongoing environmental and societal concerns, which are deeply rooted in nature and the communities of Japan’s northern Tohoku region, where he grew up. Barry Schwabsky’s essay, illustrated with details of the artworks, focuses in depth on Nara as a painter. Josh Kun discusses the inspiration Nara takes from popular music--folk songs by American singer-songwriters featuring anti-war messages, melancholic blues and, later, glam rock, punk and new wave. The book also features an in-depth chronology illustrated with childhood photographs and pictures of Nara’s studio, offering a deep dive into Nara’s life and art. The corresponding exhibition is co-organized by Guggenheim Bilbao, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, and the Hayward Gallery.
Yoshitomo Nara was born in 1959 in Aomori, Japan, and graduated with a master’s degree from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music and later studied at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. His drawings and paintings are informed by a range of influences, from manga and anime to punk rock. He has also worked in sculpture, ceramic and large-scale installation.