For his first European institutional show in a decade, art star Yoshitomo Nara brings all of his "little worlds" to a grand museum in Vienna. The exhibition at the Albertina Modern features more than 400 works by the artist.
For three consecutive years, Albertina Modern, the young museum of modern and contemporary art in Vienna, Austria, presents major solo exhibitions by leading Asian artists in continental Europe. Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki was the star of 2021; Chinese artist-activist Ai Weiwei took center stage last year; now, the spotlight is on Yoshitomo Nara, the beloved Japanese artist, darling of the international art market and favorite of audiences around the world.
Best known for his child-like portrayal of cute, contemplative "angry girls", the 63-year-old artist has amassed a massive following over the past three decades and has become a market star in recent years. Nara's paintings often fetch millions of dollars at auction - her auction record is $24.9 million for the sale of her iconic 2000 painting "Knife Behind Back" at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong in 2019.
Drawings, however, are the star of the first European institutional exhibition, “All My Little Worlds”, by Nara in a decade. The exhibition presents more than 400 works, including around 390 drawings, 15 paintings and three sculptures, objects and installations. Works range from early experimental pieces to recent offerings that are instantly recognizable. Drawings that seemed to have been spontaneously made on banknotes, envelopes, pamphlets and cardboard are displayed in an arranged manner by Nara himself.
There is no lack of wide-eyed characters. Some appear to be outraged while others appear to be sinking into deep thought. But they go beyond the surface of kawaii. The body of work on display collectively exhibits a rebellious attitude and curiosity that is often found among children, qualities that gradually fade as they become adults.
Some works on display also reflect on a variety of Nara's influences, from music to pop culture, as well as touching on sociopolitical issues and global affairs. His anti-war stance is especially prominent in this selection of works on display.
One of the main highlights is the installation “My Drawing Room”, from 2008, a hut that presents itself as a retreat for the artist, where Nara can work alone. Works on paper, cultural objects and even toys are scattered around the room, which Nara created from her imagination. The artist has also created a Spotify playlist of some of his favorite songs to accompany the viewing experience of this installation – inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the artist's world.