KEIICHI TANAAMI: KEIICHI TANAAMI: ADVENTURES IN MEMORY
NANZUKA is pleased to announce Keiichi Tanaami's new solo exhibition "Keiichi Tanaami: Adventures in Memory" at The National Art Center, Tokyo.
August 7 – November 11, 2024
This exhibition is the first major retrospective showcasing the internationally acclaimed artist Keiichi Tanaami (b. 1936). Tanaami is known for vivid, color-drenched works that intensely reflect his childhood memories of World War II and the impact of the American pop culture he encountered after the war. The exhibition presents an array of works by the astoundingly productive artist, including archival materials from past decades, tracing the entirety of Tanaami’s creative journey over more than 60 years. This unprecedented, comprehensive exploration of Tanaami’s oeuvre is organized around the theme of “memory.”
The Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami has recently been enjoying a surge in positive critical reappraisal. He began his career as a designer while enrolled at Musashino Art University, and in 1975 he became the first art director of the monthly magazine PLAYBOY (Japanese edition). Tanaami became a leading figure in Japan’s underground art scene primarily on the strength of his work in magazines and advertisements.
From the 1960s until today, he has prolifically produced paintings, collages, sculptures, animations, experimental video pieces, and installations, applying methodologies and techniques he developed in the design field. Defying confinement to specific genres or conventional rules, he has had a significant impact in an art-historical context. This exhibition is the first major retrospective covering Tanaami’s creative journey of more than 60 years, including the debut of his latest works, highlighting his status as a role model for contemporary artists.
This exhibition offers a long-awaited opportunity for viewers to immerse themselves in the world of Tanaami’s works, which resemble mind-bending collages of memory and imagination, boldly synthesizing truth and fiction and continuing to surge in popularity and critical appraisal.