Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art in Kobe Japan
The Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art (YTMOCA) opened in 2012 to display, preserve, and research the works of Yokoo Tadanori, one of Japan’s most influential contemporary artists.
The Yokoo Tadanori Museum presents over 3,000 works of the artist: posters, graphic design, illustrations, book art, and paintings. A Collection Gallery featuring archived materials, sketches, and rare works.
Yokoo Tadanori (1936) born in Hyogo Prefecture and is known for bold, colorful, surreal, and pop-influenced imagery. He combines Japanese tradition (like ukiyo-e) with Western pop culture and collage aesthetics.
Yokoo Tadanori combines photography, illustration, printed matter, pop culture symbols, and historical images. Many works comment on consumerism, death, mass media, and spirituality.
Yokoo Tadanori in 1960s rised as a Graphic Designer, and became famous for revolutionary poster art. He designed posters for avant-garde theater groups, musicians, and cultural events. His 1965 self-portrait poster “Tadanori Yokoo” is considered a breakthrough work in Japanese graphic design.
In 1980s, he turned his focus toward painting. His works became more introspective, metaphysical, and symbolic.
Key Themes in His Work: life, death, reincarnation, pop culture and mass media, spirituality and mysticism, identity and autobiography, memories and dreams, commentary on modern society.
Place/ Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art (YTMOCA)
ft/ Kate Zaniewska
