Exhibition: Yoshitomo Nara

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is presenting one of the most influential Japanese artists of his generation. Yoshitomo Nara (Hirosaki, 1959) is known for his portraits of children's figures which, between the adorable, enigmatic and menacing, have become icons of contemporary art.

The exhibition spans the artist's entire career, from his first works in Japan in the 1980s to his time in Germany. Punk, folk and underground rock mark his first stage, influenced by his own personal history and other artists such as Takeshi Motai.During his residence in Germany, Nara avoided the isolation caused by the language barrier by studying and discovering German Expressionism and developing his peculiar style. Work produced upon his return to Japan in 2000, and a significant selection of paintings, drawings, installations and sculptures created since then, complete the exhibition.