YOSHITOMO NARA: NOTHING EVER HAPPENS
December 3, 2004 - February 27, 2005

This traveling exhibition, curated by Kristin Chambers and organized by the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, presents a selection of work over the past 10 years of one of Japan’s most prominent artists. Known for his Anime (animation) drawings of “tough” girls, his cartoon-like dog sculptures and his inventive artists’ books, Nara’s exhibition will include over 20 works in painting, drawing, and sculpture. Nara’s work references childhood and is characterized by a flat, graphic style, but his artistic influences reveal a much broader range, including Renaissance painting, literature, illustration, graffiti and punk rock. Nara’s works highlight the manic fear, anxiety, simplicity, fantasy, and escape that defines childhood and leaves its remnants on the adult psyche. A full color catalog will accompany the exhibition with essays from pop cultural icons such as Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, author Dave Eggers, and Debbie Harry, front-woman of Blondie.

Curator’s Talk:
Kristin Chambers: A Visit to Naraland
6:00 pm reception with speaker 7:00 pm lecture, Free
Kristin Chambers, Independent Curator and Publishing Consultant, will discuss the exhibition Yoshitomo Nara: Nothing Ever Happens.