San Francisco Museum Of Modern Arts Artists Gallery, Building A
“Among Westerners who have always been enamored of the mysterious East, are those artists attracted to the arts and culture of Japan.” With this simple statement curator Bob Hanamura introduces the exhibit “Banzai/Godzilla: Japanese Influences in American Culture Then and Now” on display at the San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Artists Gallery in Building A.
Hanamura divides the exhibit into two parts. The “Banzai” portion refers to the type of art created prior to World War II when European artists became interested in the formal qualities of Japanese traditional arts — “economy of means, flattened two-dimensional spatial relationships in painting, etc.” The “Godzilla” half refers to the current fascination with Japanese pop culture, typified by the highly popular manga (comic strips) and anime (animation).
Ceramicist Tomoko Nakazato clearly falls into the latter category. “Welcome to the World of (stress-free, guilt-free & pain-free) Mischiefs” proclaims her web site. Inside, one finds playful sculptures with names like “Chicken Lady Series” or “Bunny Girl and Froggy Series” with more than a passing resemblance to cartoon figures. The work of Kathy Aoki likewise has a cartoon-like feel, in fact her tongue-in-cheek “Market St. Kiosks” series features mock comic book covers each highlighting one of her “Champions of Market St.” — super heroes with names like “Returno,” a do-gooder who returns lost items to people.
At quite the other end of the artistic spectrum are the “Banzai” artists of the exhibit — those whose work show the influences of Japanese traditional arts. Laura Dufort’s paintings are the very embodiment of minimalism. Her “Floating Buddha Field” consists of translucent circles suspended over a silvery field — the picture of quiet simplicity pared to the bare essentials. The works of John Casey draw inspiration from religious iconography with references to Japanese Shinto ghosts and demons.
Curator Hanamura wonders if the magazine Juxtapoz — which supports the manga/anime culture and is now the third most popular art magazine in the country — will be the future Art in America “where manga and anime-driven art takes over as Hondas and Toyotas have taken over America’s auto industry?” See the show at SFMOMA’s Artists Gallery and decide for yourself.
“Banzai/Godzilla: Japanese Influences in American Culture Then and Now” is on display through July 27. There is an artists’ reception on June 27. See Ongoing Programs and www.sfmoma.org/museumstore/artists_overview.html for more information.
— Jovanne Reilly
Image: "Battle of Kawaii by Katherine Aoki
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