The Korea Times : Exhibit Evokes Childhood Anxieties, Memories (Yoshitomo Nara)

"Many of Yoshitomo Nara's artworks depict cute children. However, if you look at them more carefully, you might find the Japanese artist's characters far more disturbing than adorable.

At Nara's solo exhibit at Rodin Gallery in Seoul, viewers will be met with slanted eyes, animal-child heads, elongated arms and distorted facial expressions that, despite their overall cuteness, express the anxiety of people living in an increasingly hybrid society.

Nara, 46, is a star artist who gave international prominence to Japan's Neo Pop Art movement, which is based on animation and cartoons.

``This exhibition shows paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and installation works that feature various characters from the 1980s up through now," Nara said at a news conference last week. ``It will be an experience to reminisce over our childhood memories, like looking into an old drawer." (more at link)
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