亞洲現代與當代藝術 Modern and Contemporary Asian Art

YOSHITOMO
NARA
MONKEY
BABY GO-GO
1988
19931990
"Monkey Baby Go-Go" displays many of the elements of
Yoshitomo Nara's work which has brought him critical acclaim and
a world-wide cult following. Nara often depicts small children with
big heads and large eyes, which at first glance seem cute and
benevolent, but as the viewer dwells on the child, they seem to be
filled with angst and almost hatred, as their eyes reveal something
uneasy.
Nara's artwork like many contemporary Japanese artists is
influenced by the style of anime and manga. Having graduated
from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, he
based himself in Tokyo, where he encountered a generation that
has lost its way, wondering what its place in the world is, and as
adults are bewildered and sociopathic. He spent five years in
Germany studying at the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf from 1988 to
1993. Returning to Japan in the early 1990s he was influenced by
the Japanese Pop art movement or "Superflat" style as defined
by Takashi Murakami. His figures are stylized in the manga form,
however they are infused with great emotional power and impact.
Using simple lines and empty backgrounds, Nara focuses our
attention on his characters. Growing up, he was attracted to punk
rock music, the outlet for an unhappy, disillusioned and aggravated
youth.
"Monkey Baby Go-Go" depicts an apparently happy child, dancing
with himself. The yellow background color is bright and warm and
the child seems happy in himself. However, he is alone, and while
seemingly independent, as we focus on his eyes we see a hardness
that we don't expect in a child. It is this "aloneness" that so many
Japanese suffered in Nara's generation, that he so powerfully
depicts in this portrait. Children need to be surrounded by people,
being loved and taken care of, and if these essential necessities
are missing, the child's inner wellbeing suffers enormously.The
title "Monkey Baby" makes us smile when we first hear it, with
its connotations of childish play, but for many of Japan's current
generation their upbringing lacked the love and attention that
human children need, and for many of them, including Nara, they
may feel that they were treated as little more than non-human
monkeys. It is Nara's ability to portray so powerfully the inner
turmoil of his generation that has brought him so many accolades
and a huge worldwide following.