Artist Nara visits isles

His recent works and Hawaii
collaborations will go on
exhibit here

Honolulu is the final stop on a tour by internationally celebrated artist Yoshitomo Nara, whose simultaneously cute and menacing images of young children and pets are among the most recognized by contemporary artists anywhere in the world.

The Contemporary Museum, at 2411 Makiki Heights Drive, will open the exhibition "Yoshitomo Nara: Nothing Ever Happens" on Friday, featuring paintings, drawings and sculptures from 1997-2003. Running in conjunction with the show is "Shaka Nara," a collaboration between Nara and six Hawaii-based artists: Ryan Higa, Ryuta Nakajima, Koi Ozu, Cade Roster, David Tanji and Jason Teraoka.

The exhibition was organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland and curated by Kristin Chambers, and will be sponsored in Hawaii by an anonymous donor with the additional support of the Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York, the Japan Foundation, Toby Devan Lewis, the Peter Norton Family Foundation, Nancy and Joel Portnoy and Jennifer McSweeney Reuss.

"Shaka Nara" was organized by the Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, and curated by TCM curator Michael Rooks.

A four-part series of free lectures, co-sponsored by the UH Center for Japanese Studies and the Department of Art and Art History, will explore Nara's work, with highlights being a conversation with Nara tomorrow and a curator's walk-through of the exhibitions Sunday.

THE CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM "Round-Eyed Pilot, 1997," by Yoshitomo Nara, is a work of fiberglass, resin, wood, lacquer and cotton. From the collection of Jacob and Ruth Bloom, Los Angeles.

Here is the schedule:

Tomorrow: Join curator Michael Rooks in a conversation with exhibiting artist Yoshitomo Nara, 7:30 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Art Auditorium.

Sunday: Gallery talk with exhibition curator Kristen Chambers, 1:30 p.m. at TCM.

April 12: UH anthropology professor Christine Yano, whose work includes studies of Japanese pop phenomena such as Hello Kitty and Kikaida, speaks about Nara, Hello Kitty and other Japanese pop merchandising phenomena; 7 p.m. at the UH Art Auditorium.

April 26: Columbia University professor Marilyn Ivy will share her insights on the Japanese visual aesthetic and graphic movement known as "Superflat." She will speak about the historical, aesthetic and cultural genesis of Superflat and how it has shaped Japanese and international visual culture; 7 p.m. at UH Art Auditorium.

Call 526-1322 for information.

Also taking place at TCM will be a College Day and 'Zine Fair running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16, in celebration of Nara's youthful idealism.

Students with valid college identification will be admitted free and be able to participate in special programming such as a walk-through of the exhibition led by associate curator Michael Rooks, membership specials and the fair, featuring the work of artists and authors ranging in age from high school to adult.

Others will pay admission of $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. Children 12 and younger will also be admitted free.