Scheduled Exhibition World of Taro Okamoto – Impact of Modern Art –
'Icon in Red Taro Okamoto Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki
Exhibit Period
April 18 (Fri) to May 25 (Sun), 2008
Exhibit Times
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(last admissions at 4:30 p.m.)
Museum closed
April 21 (Mon); May 7 (Wed); 12 (Mon); 19 (Mon), 2008
Admission Fee
Adults 700 (630) yen; High School, College Students: 400 (360) yen; Elementary, Junior High School Students: 100 (90) yen * Fees in parentheses are group rates for 20 or more visitors * Free admission for visitors aged over 70 years and preschoolers * Half price for visitors with the physical disability certificate, and for one accompanying caregiver
Overview
Taro Okamoto (1911-96) cut a conspicuous figure as the symbol of the avant-garde. However, he never imitated or followed Western art, while he developed his original art activities based on cultural anthropology or Japanese traditional culture. Taro stated as follows; 'I declare that art in the present day should not be clever, beautiful, nor comfortable, because I believe that it is the essential condition for art.' The declaration shows his confidence and faith as an artist.
He was educated at Universite de Paris before WWII, while he took part in the group"Abstraction-Creation", which held up the idea of "non-figuratif", as the youngest member. Picasso, Kandinsky, and Arp also participated in the group.
His natural gift as an artist bloomed after he had returned to Japan. He extended his creative activities over sculpture, architecture, and even the plastic arts for daily life as well as paintings. One of the most famous works is the huge monument for the Expo in 1970 "Tower of the Sun" which still stands in Osaka 37 years after the Expo.
Taro's art works would be always present in our mind once we experience his works full of energy because they rise above the space-time. This exhibit introduces the world of the modern art where Taro made his way.
Museum Talk
Presented by the curator of the museum on April 26, 2008 (Sat).
Start at 1:30 p.m.
Payment of museum admission fee is required.
Sponsor
Sponsored by
The Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum of Art