Okamoto Taro
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese artist noted for his abstract and avant-garde
paintings and sculpture.
. He was a prolific artist and writer until his death, and has exerted considerable influence on Japanese society.
He was deeply interested in mystery and the occult throughout his years in Paris, where he lived from 1930 to 1940. He majored in ethnology
under Professor Marcel Mauss
(1872–1950) at the Université Paris Sorbonne and focused on studying the rites among tribes in the zone of Oceania. Okamoto also attended the Collège de Sociologie Sacré organized by George Bataille (1897–1962), and he participated in rites which were carried out in silence and in the darkness of the woods near Saint-Germain in a faubourg
of Paris, as a member of Acephale, a secret spiritual society.
He was known for the quote, "Art is Magic" and "Art is Explosion."
Among the artists Okamoto associated with during his stay in Paris were André Breton
(1896–1966), the leader of Surrealism, and Kurt Seligmann (1900–62), a Swiss Surrealist artist, who was the Surrealists' authority on magic and who met Okamoto's parents, Ippei and Kanoko Okamoto, during a trip to Japan in 1936.
In the 1950's, he received a commission from the Oriental Nakamura
department store in Nagoya to create a large mural on the main facade of their flagship store. The mural was demolished after Oriental Nakamura was bought by Mitsukoshi in the 1970's.
In 1964 Tarō Okamoto published a book titled Shinpi Nihon (Mysteries in Japan). His interest in Japanese mysteries was sparked off by a visit he made to the Tokyo National Museum. After having become intrigued by the Jōmon wares he found there, he journeyed all over Japan in order to research what he perceived as the mystery which lies beneath Japanese culture, and then he published Nihon Sai-hakken－Geijutsu Fudoki (Rediscovery of the Japan－Topography of Art).
One of his most famous works, Tower of the Sun
, became the symbol of Expo '70
in Suita, Osaka, 1970. It shows the past (lower part), present (middle part), and future (the face) of the human race. It still stands in the center of the Expo Memorial Park.
After 30 years in Mexico. On November 17, 2008, his mural "The Myth of Tomorrow", depicting a human figure being hit by an atomic bomb
, was unveiled in its new permanent location at Shibuya Station
, Tokyo.
This work was made for the Hotel de Mexico in Mexico city by Manuel Suarez y Suarez.
Kawasaki City
, his hometown, has constructed the memorial museum
in Tama Ward
, northwest of the city.
His studio/home is also open to visitors and is located in Aoyama
in Tokyo.
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
paintings and sculpture.
Biography
He studied at Panthéon-Sorbonne in the 1930s, and created many great works of art after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a prolific artist and writer until his death, and has exerted considerable influence on Japanese society.
He was deeply interested in mystery and the occult throughout his years in Paris, where he lived from 1930 to 1940. He majored in ethnology
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
under Professor Marcel Mauss
Marcel Mauss
Marcel Mauss was a French sociologist. The nephew of Émile Durkheim, Mauss' academic work traversed the boundaries between sociology and anthropology...
(1872–1950) at the Université Paris Sorbonne and focused on studying the rites among tribes in the zone of Oceania. Okamoto also attended the Collège de Sociologie Sacré organized by George Bataille (1897–1962), and he participated in rites which were carried out in silence and in the darkness of the woods near Saint-Germain in a faubourg
Faubourg
Faubourg is an ancient French term approximating "suburb" . The earliest form is Forsbourg, derived from Latin foris, 'out of', and Vulgar Latin burgum, 'town' or 'fortress'...
of Paris, as a member of Acephale, a secret spiritual society.
He was known for the quote, "Art is Magic" and "Art is Explosion."
Among the artists Okamoto associated with during his stay in Paris were André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
(1896–1966), the leader of Surrealism, and Kurt Seligmann (1900–62), a Swiss Surrealist artist, who was the Surrealists' authority on magic and who met Okamoto's parents, Ippei and Kanoko Okamoto, during a trip to Japan in 1936.
In the 1950's, he received a commission from the Oriental Nakamura
Oriental Nakamura
Oriental Nakamura was a Japanese department store in Sakae, Nagoya, central Japan.- History :The history goes back to the year 1869 Oriental Nakamura (オリエンタル中村百貨店) was a Japanese department store in Sakae, Nagoya, central Japan.- History :The history goes back to the year 1869 Oriental Nakamura...
department store in Nagoya to create a large mural on the main facade of their flagship store. The mural was demolished after Oriental Nakamura was bought by Mitsukoshi in the 1970's.
In 1964 Tarō Okamoto published a book titled Shinpi Nihon (Mysteries in Japan). His interest in Japanese mysteries was sparked off by a visit he made to the Tokyo National Museum. After having become intrigued by the Jōmon wares he found there, he journeyed all over Japan in order to research what he perceived as the mystery which lies beneath Japanese culture, and then he published Nihon Sai-hakken－Geijutsu Fudoki (Rediscovery of the Japan－Topography of Art).
One of his most famous works, Tower of the Sun
Tower of the Sun
The is an artwork created by Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto. It was known as the symbol of Expo '70 and currently is preserved and located in the Expo Commemoration Park in Suita, Osaka, Japan...
, became the symbol of Expo '70
Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
in Suita, Osaka, 1970. It shows the past (lower part), present (middle part), and future (the face) of the human race. It still stands in the center of the Expo Memorial Park.
After 30 years in Mexico. On November 17, 2008, his mural "The Myth of Tomorrow", depicting a human figure being hit by an atomic bomb
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
, was unveiled in its new permanent location at Shibuya Station
Shibuya Station
is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
, Tokyo.
This work was made for the Hotel de Mexico in Mexico city by Manuel Suarez y Suarez.
Kawasaki City
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
, his hometown, has constructed the memorial museum
Taro Okamoto Museum of Art
is an art museum located in Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. The Taro Okamoto Museum of Art mainly collects and preserves the works of Taro Okamoto, and his parents Kanoko and Ippei.- History :...
in Tama Ward
Tama-ku, Kawasaki
is one of the 8 wards of the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the ward had an estimated population of 211,221 and a density of 10,310 persons per km². The total area was 20.49 km².-Geography:...
, northwest of the city.
His studio/home is also open to visitors and is located in Aoyama
Aoyama
Aoyama may refer to:-Places:* Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan** Aoyama Gakuin University, famous university located in Aoyama, Tokyo** Aoyama-itchōme Station, a railway station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan...
in Tokyo.