TOKYO – The image is dense and the colors are very bright. This is the world of Keiichi Tanaami, a pioneer of pop art in Japan.
After his passing at the age of 88 on August 9, exhibited at Keiichi Tanaami: Adventures in Memorya large-scale retrospective exhibition of around 500 works looking back on his artistic output over 60 years.
Active as a graphic designer and renowned artist since the 1960s, Tanaami is known for her collage techniques and bright colors.
He transforms his life experiences, such as war and fighting disease, into art, combining them with visuals from various sources such as film, anime and classic and modern paintings from various eras and cultures. He has also been involved in editing a monthly magazine Playboy Japanese edition.
“Making a collage is like editing a magazine. I find and collect materials to create a world. It suits my nature,” said Tanaami in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun last year. A wide range of motifs can be found throughout the paintings, sculptures, videos and installations on display at the exhibition including fighter jets, UFOs, American comic book characters, mannequins featured in the paintings of Giorgio de Chirico and roosters in the works of Ito Jakuchu.
Among the motifs, the pine tree is one of the most eye-catching. It is said to have originated from the hallucinations Tanaami experienced as a side effect of taking strong drugs when he was hospitalized for tuberculosis in 1981.
Skulls also appear in many of his artworks, potentially inspired by experiences of war and battles with disease, reflecting his belief as an artist that “feeling death so close brings one to life.”
There are also paintings from a series of re-creations of works by Pablo Picasso, as well as collaborations with mangaka Fujio Akatsuka.
The volume and weight of Tanaami’s work really attracted the attention of visitors. After the visitor is enthralled by his works, the world may look a little different after leaving the museum. The exhibition will run until November 11 at the National Art Center, Tokyo in the Roppongi district. – ANN/Japan News
