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May 15, 2015
ART | "BEAT TAKESHI KITANO: The Painter Boy Exhibition"
A smash hit exhibition at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art returns to Japan!
BEAT TAKESHI KITANO: The Artist
The exhibition "BEAT TAKESHI KITANO: The Artist," held at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris in 2010 and met with great acclaim, will be on display from Friday, April 13th to Sunday, September 2nd at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in Hatsudai, Tokyo.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Not a comedian, not a film director: the contemporary artist "BEAT TAKESHI KITANO"
Established in 1984, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art consistently provides opportunities for people to encounter contemporary art in its diverse forms through annual solo and thematic exhibitions. Its collection of commissioned works by artists is also noteworthy, now exceeding 1,000 pieces. The foundation has supported and showcased the work of internationally renowned artists such as David Lynch, Takashi Murakami, and Tadanori Yokoo.
It was this very foundation that turned its attention to Kitano, a man of many facets, known as the "genius comedian Beat Takeshi" and the "world-renowned film director Takeshi Kitano." Following a motorcycle accident in 1994, he began creating paintings that fused animals and flowers as part of his rehabilitation. Since then, he has presented vibrant works within his own directed films, including "HANA-BI," "Kikujiro," and "Achilles and the Tortoise."
In 2010, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art introduced a new facet of Kitano as the contemporary artist "BEAT TAKESHI KITANO" with the exhibition "Beat Takeshi Kitano, Gosse de peintre" held from March to September. Now, his solo exhibition, which garnered significant attention in Paris, makes its triumphant return to Japan for its first-ever showing in the country.
Regarding the exhibition, BEAT TAKESHI KITANO states: "Through this solo exhibition, I hope to imbue the word 'art' with a different meaning. Art shouldn't be something special; it should be accessible, unpretentious, and easy for everyone to engage with. I'm delighted that this exhibition is happening in Japan, and I truly hope many people will enjoy it." (BEAT TAKESHI KITANO)
The exhibition showcases a diverse "Kitano World," featuring not only his colorful paintings, created with the unique sensibility of someone who calls himself "the son of a house painter," but also sculptures, objects, and installations. It is a space where visitors can appreciate his boundless talent, humor, and beauty, transcending the boundaries of comedy and film.
BEAT TAKESHI KITANO: The Artist
Dates: Friday, April 13 - Sunday, September 2
Hours: 11:00 - 19:00 (Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00; last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday; open continuously during Golden Week), Sunday, August 5th
Tickets: Adults ¥1300 (¥1100 advance), University/High School Students ¥1000 (¥800 advance), Junior High/Elementary School Students ¥800 (¥600 advance)
Ticket Sales: Scheduled for February
Hello Dial
Tel. 03-5777-8600
http://www.btk2012.jp