【Book Description】
Few figures have had a greater impact on postwar Japanese visual culture than Tadanori Yokoo. Active since the 1960s, Yokoo has continuously pushed the boundaries between art and design, developing a highly distinctive visual language that blends psychedelia, Pop Art, advertising imagery, sexual iconography, and traditional Japanese motifs such as ukiyo-e prints. His work has become synonymous with the spirit, complexity, and transformation of postwar Japan.
This landmark publication is the first comprehensive English-language retrospective dedicated to Yokoo’s remarkable career. Drawing on an extensive selection of artworks and archival materials, it traces more than five decades of creative practice, offering a broad overview of his artistic evolution. While Yokoo is widely celebrated for his groundbreaking graphic design, this volume places particular emphasis on his painting practice, providing fresh insight into his artistic vision, creative methods, and continually evolving aesthetic language.
Set against the backdrop of Japan’s major social, cultural, and political developments, the book reveals how Yokoo’s work reflects the changing identity of a nation. Through the dialogue between art and history, it presents not only a portrait of an artist but also a compelling narrative of postwar Japanese culture.
The publication includes an essay by Mark Holborn, alongside an English translation of “Popcorn Minimalism,” the influential text by renowned Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. Quotes from Yokoo himself appear throughout the book, offering readers a more intimate understanding of his creative philosophy and artistic process.
Featuring over 500 pages and richly illustrated throughout, this volume stands as one of the most comprehensive English-language publications on Tadanori Yokoo. It is an essential reference for anyone interested in Japanese art, graphic design, contemporary cultural history, or the extraordinary work of one of Japan’s most influential visual artists.
【Details】
Author: Mark Holborn
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 528 pages