Hoofin

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 22:07:50 -0500

This is definitely worth seeing. The elephants (Chinatsu Ban) are just one pop style exhibited. Japan Society also has pieces dedicated to anime, Godzilla, Ultraman, graphic artist Shigeru Komatsuzaki. The best pop art of the 20th and 21st centuries. If anyone has heard of Takano Aya, her work is prominently featured. Murakami's premise is that the destruction of Japan, the awesome horror in a human context---particularly with the use of two nuclear bombs--became expressed through modern art. For one reason, it was because there was sensorship by the Occupation of any "media dialogue" about how America won. Often, things not allowed to be said directly are expressed in other ways. (Because of the boot of official sanction, or because they are feelings too unpleasant to talk about.) With defeat in war, Japan was reduced to a "child nation", and allegedly this art reflects that. I don't have total buy-in on that one. The perspective is postwar---it gives too little consideration to how dramatically different life was in Japan in the decades prior to the Curtis Lemay raids. Because it's art, it gets a pass. Too little is said about what it must have felt like to be the victim on the opposite side of the American/allied assault on Japan. And the refrain about "started it" or "deserved it" is a little too dry by now. Japan does not seem like a nation of children. Japan looks more like a nation, bullied by the thugs who ran it, who squeezed the enjoyment of life out of damn near everyone who came under their control. Who forced everyone in Asia, over three generations, to grow up too fast. So the art now assures that there is a childhood and joy and wonder in life.

dumb idea detector

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:50:42 -0500

cute does not equal art you might as well just blow up the virgin airline yellow duck and blow it up 100 times sorry but the chinatsu ban's piece should just stay in japan... the show at marianne boesky was terrible. how did it even get to central park- thats super absurd

jaykayess

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 16:23:16 -0500

Louise Bourgeois. She's a lady.

tien

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 15:41:02 -0500

heart poop = poop with love

joe

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 15:29:20 -0500

I was surprised that the normally priggish Times had the poo in their photo.

Kojak

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:37:10 -0500

First Hello Kitty, and now this... I'm going to notify Masamania.com about this

Gothamist: Super Kawaii: New Japanese Art in the City

Hoofin

dumb idea detector

jaykayess

tien

joe

Kojak