Okamoto Taro

Biography

• February 26th, 1911 – January 7th, 1996 (84)

• Born in Japan and lived there until 1930

• Studied oil painting at Tokyo Fine Arts School

• 1930-1940 moved to Paris and studied at University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne (1938)

• 1964, Published a book Shinpi Nihon (Mysteries in Japan)

• 1970, built Tower of the Sun

Facts

• Catchphrase, “Art is Explosion” and “Art is Magic”

• Became friends with Alberto Giacometti and Jean Arp from Paris and joined the Abstraction-Creation group

• Was forced to return to Japan during the 1940’s due to Germanies Invasion

• During 1942-1946, sent to a Chinese base for the war, when he returned home he found a lot of his work to be destroyed by the war

• After the war, Taro emphasized the capitalistic and fascist traits now seen in Japanese culture within his works of art

Facts, Continued

• Taro had the idea of Polarism which combined Abstract and Surrealistic traits. Ichiro Hariu, a art critic says it’s ''a philosophy that called for venturing into the depths of contradictions without trying to bring them together with easy solutions or compromises.'‘ Taro’s catchphrase also comes from his Polarism painting viewpoint

• Taro worked on many journals and essays, famous ones being “Law of the Jungle”, “Heavy Industry”, and “Todays Art”.

• Taro Researched “Earthenware”, Pottery from the Joman Era extensively. He enjoyed the crude rope like beauty held in them and was fascinated.

Recent information

• Taro was well known in his time and appeared on TV frequently. His works and popularity also got him to become the theme producer for Expo ‘70 in Osaka, which was the first worlds fair to be held in an Asian country

• He was said to be a very eccentric and friendly personality idealistic for the media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv2slOlO7mc

• Currently his art is held within the Okamoto Taro Museum of Art in Tokyo, which converted his home and workplace into a famous public attraction.

Heavy Industry1949

• This is supposed to represent the idea of reckless capitalism in postwar japan.

• It is a depiction of Japan getting back on its feat after the war.

• What do you think?

Law of the Jungle - 1950

The Myth of Tomorrow – 1968/1969

• Unveiled in 2008, The Myth of Tomorrow conceptualizes a human being hit by an atomic bomb.

• This mural was originally commissioned by a Mexico City hotel developer in the late 60s. When the developer became bankrupt, this mural disappeared for 30 years. After it was found, must restoration was performed on it, and it is now permanently on display in Shibuya Station

The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

Addition to The Myth of Tomorrow(Bottom right corner)

Tower of the Sun• The sculpture has

three faces. The top conveying Future, the front containing the present, and the back portraying the past.

Tower of the Sun

Tower of the Sun

3D Model of Tower of Sun, Motherhood(left) , and Youth (Right)

Okamoto Taro’s grave

Tower of Mother

Wounded Arm

Picture of Joman Pottery (1956)

Examples of Joman pottery(not taken by Taro)

Tree of Life (1970)

Tree of Life (breakdown)

Tree of Life (large scale)

Any questions/comments?