Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara is set to present a solo exhibition of his works in Tainan, where his 2021 painting “Slight Fever” will be shown outside Japan for the first time, according to the organizers.
The southern city is the third stop of the touring exhibition of Nara’s works in Taiwan, which began in March in Taipei and then moved to Kaohsiung between July and October.
The highlight of the Tainan stop, “Slight Fever,” has only been shown so far in Tokyo in a group exhibition at the Yutaka Kikutake Gallery from April to June, the General Association of Chinese Culture, one of the organizers of Nara’s exhibitions in Taiwan, said in a statement.
It is a continuation of Nara’s line of portraits of children, some of which have been described as “big-headed girls,” but the artist was cited in the statement as saying that the girl in this painting is slightly more mature than the children he has drawn in the past.
“I’m not sure why, but I feel as though she is saying goodbye to her childhood past and entering her teenage years,” Nara said.
Beyond “Slight Fever,” the Tainan stop will showcase the 53 works Nara showed in Taipei, including “Miss Moonlight” and “Hazy Humid Day,” the latter of which the artist created specifically for Taiwan.
It will also show additional works displayed in Kaohsiung — a photography series titled “Traveling Yamako,” two of his 2019 works titled “Yamako Sister/older” and “Yamako Sister/younger,” and sketches he completed during his first 14-day quarantine period in Taipei earlier this year, according to the statement.
Nara arrived in Taiwan in late October to prepare the Tainan show, his third time in Taiwan this year and third stint in the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“By the way, it’s really hot,” tweeted Nara on Sunday, attaching a screenshot of the 32 degree Celsius temperature forecast for the day.
The Tainan exhibition will be held at the Tainan Art Museum’s Building 1, formerly a police precinct built in 1931 that was picked by Nara after he saw photos of the historical building, according to the association.
The show will take place from Nov. 16 to Feb. 13 next year. Admission is free, but people need to make an online appointment to get in.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel