Discussion featuring Kenjiro Okazaki, Yukinori Yanagi, Kenji Yanobe, and Mika Yoshitake, renowned artists in the art world
In an exciting event co-presented by Blum & Poe, three prolific Japanese artists from the 1980s and 1990s will come together for a lecture and discussion, shedding light on their groundbreaking works that engaged with themes of memory, identity, history, and the impact of technology and consumerism.
Mika Yoshitake, a Japanese postwar art historian and Guest Curator at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, will lead the discussion. Joining her will be Kenjiro Okazaki, Yukinori Yanagi, and Kenji Yanobe, whose works from this period reflect the social, political, and historical complexities of Japan during rapid modernization.
Kenjiro Okazaki, known for his conceptual and abstract works, often explores perception, movement, and the sensation of space, tying into broader themes of identity and experience. Yukinori Yanagi's art addresses collective memory, especially regarding war and colonial history, nuclear themes, and the fragile nature of national narratives. Kenji Yanobe, on the other hand, is recognised for his exploration of humanity, technology, and survival, frequently incorporating motifs related to nuclear catastrophe and post-apocalyptic visions.
These artists' works share common thematic threads, including memory and history, identity and selfhood, engagement with popular and everyday culture, and critique of technology and consumerism. They contributed to the critical turn in Japanese contemporary art, reflecting the era's social and political complexity through distinctive but overlapping conceptual concerns.
The event will take place at an unspecified location and will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience. This discussion is part of a wider public programming series connected to the exhibition Parergon: Japanese Art of the 1980s and 1990s at Blum & Poe, Los Angeles, curated by Mika Yoshitake herself.
Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the works of these influential artists and gain insights into their creative processes and the context of modern Japanese art in the 1980s and 1990s.
References:
- "Parergon: Japanese Art of the 1980s and 1990s" exhibition catalogue, Blum & Poe, 2021.
- Kenjiro Okazaki's conceptual art, which delves into perception, movement, and space, forms part of a broader exploration of identity and experience.
- The upcoming Q&A session after the lecture promises an opportunity to discover the creative processes behind Yukinori Yanagi's works addressing war memory, nuclear themes, and national narratives.
- The event, connected to the exhibition "Parergon: Japanese Art of the 1980s and 1990s," offers a chance to understand the critical turn in Japanese contemporary art, influenced by social, political, and historical complexities.
- This exhibition, housed at Blum & Poe, Los Angeles, and tied to educational and self-development programs, is a unique chance to engage with the impact of art, culture, and architecture on modern Japanese society.
