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無題（Someonelse） Untitled (Someonelse) 題識上方：Someonelse Inscribed upper Someonelse 奈良美智生於日本青森縣弘前市，1987 年畢業於日本愛知縣立藝術大學，取得碩士學位。隨後他遠赴德國杜塞道夫藝術學院留學，並於1993 年完成其學業。他在德國生活了12 年，直至2000 年才回到日本，現時他在東京工作。受兒童書籍的插圖風格影響，奈良美智筆下的兒童肖象都擁有特大的頭部比例。這些孩子總是緊繃著臉的，所表現出來的反叛精神和憤世嫉俗的態度，與奈良美智熱愛的龐克搖滾音樂文化是一脈相承的。奈良美智的創作跨越不同的媒介，從明信片、畫布到雕塑作品，鮮明的風格使他獲得一批忠實的追隨者。 奈良美智是日本青森弘前市人，1959年12月5日出生。青森是知名盛產蘋果與櫻花的的故鄉，有迷人遼闊的自然風光，冬天時蕭瑟寂靜。奈良美智如今不知不覺也進入耳順之年，依舊一身T恤或者帽T與牛仔褲等率性裝扮，然已滿頭白髮蒼蒼。進入中年之後，風格上有些轉變，尤其是畫中的人物眼神少了純然的憤怒叛逆，多了複雜的情感，寧靜且安祥，意味著心境的轉變。 天生有畫畫的天賦，小時候曾被家鄉的美術系學生稱讚會畫畫，小學老師也誇獎他畫得很像大人，但沒有激發他學美術的心，直到高三準備升學之際，才萌生報考藝術大學的念頭，於是前往東京就讀補習班。後來先進入武藏野美術學校，熱衷於龐克音樂、流連於演唱會和唱片行，對生硬的學院理論不感興趣，休學一年後瀟灑地跑到印度、巴基斯坦與歐洲流浪。回來後，重新考入愛知縣立藝術大學，完成研究所學業。擔任過美術教師後，轉赴國立杜塞道夫藝術學院就讀，在柏林成立工作室，名氣漸開，赴美國UCLA擔任客座教授等，旅居海外12年回國。期間決定一生以藝術家為志業。 他忠於自己的選擇，沒有太多的猶豫。作家吉本芭娜娜曾說：「儘管在這個年頭要始終保持真實和誠懇是相當困難的事情，但奈良是真誠的，對此我深信不疑。」她形容奈良的畫作「因沉痛與孤獨而異常冰冷的世界，但內心絕不是惡的。而我寧可在這樣的世界中長居。」 學生時期的叛逆和不服從學院權威的念頭，成長的記憶和旅行的所見所聞，不斷地縈繞在心靈深處。他的藝術啟蒙來自於熱愛的音樂唱片封面設計。夾雜著文字與圖樣的設計形式，在他早期的圖畫裡可見其深刻影響。2020年洛杉磯郡立美術館的奈良美智回顧展策展人吉竹美香（Mika Yoshitake），點出藝術家長期所熱愛的「音樂」，以此貫穿整場展覽的主軸。她說，「自奈良美智九歲時聽到民謠以來，各式唱片專輯的封面成為他接觸、吸收藝術的途逕之一」。 該展覽第一間展廳展示了超過300張奈良從少年時期開始蒐集的專輯封套，壯觀的音樂牆，震撼力十足。這些音樂主要集中在1960年代末到1970年代中期。九歲後透過收音機聽到美軍電台Far East Network的節目，發現了西方民搖和搖滾。兒時孤獨一人在家，聆聽電台音樂的同時，默默開啟了他的無限想像力。 No Music, No Life! 沒有音樂，沒有生命。確實，音樂一直與奈良同在。奈良美智表示，「在畫畫的時候，音樂就會進入我的耳朵，然後直接從我的手中傳出。」他會一邊聽音樂，一邊創作。有他的不少作品或展覽名稱，都是來自西洋歌曲名稱或歌詞。至今在他的工作室裡，繼續累積著更多的搖滾、藍調、靈魂和龐克的專輯唱片。可以說他也成為西方當代音樂演進的歷史見證人。諸如，1960-1970年代的Bob Dylan、The Beatles；1980年代的David Bowie、Iggy Pop，龐克的The Clash、Sex Pistoles、Ramones，到雷鬼Bob Marley、電子音樂Kraftwerk、搖滾的Nirvana；到了1990年代的英國搖滾Blur、Radiohead，與The Beastie Boys的嘻哈音樂等等，都曾陪伴他不同的歲月，一起成長。 Nara was born in Hirosaki, a village located in the northern prefecture of Aomori, Japan. After obtaining a Masters in Fine Arts from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music in Nagoya, Japan in 1987, Nara moved to Germany to study at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, from which he graduated in 1993. Until 2000, Nara continued to live and work in Germany before returning to Japan, and is currently based out of Tokyo. Nara's artwork primarily features depictions of children with oversized heads, in a style directly influenced by children's book illustrations. His children are often sullen and angry, imbued with the angst and rebellion of Nara's Punk rock influence. Nara's work spans a diverse range of media, from postcards to canvas paintings to three-dimensional sculptural works, and has acquired a cult-like following as varied as his methods. Yoshitomo Nara was born in Hirosaki City of Aomori Prefecture in Japan on December 5, 1959. Known for its apples and cherry blossoms, Aomori has boundless and alluring natural scenery, though it can be desolate and quiet in the winter time. Currently, Nara is in his 60's and his hair has turned salt-andpepper, he still dresses in simple T-shirts or hooded sweatshirts with jeans. His painting style also seemed to change as he aged. It is most apparent in the eyes of the characters, where the looks of rebellion and anger have been replaced by more complex emotions, tranquility, and peacefulness that likely match the transformation of his mindset. Nara has a natural talent in painting. When he was young, an art student from his hometown once praised him as being good at painting. His elementary school teacher also said that he painted like an adult. However, he only decided to study art during his last year in high school while preparing college entrance exams, and attended tutoring school in Tokyo as a result. Nara ended up attending Musashino Art University, but he was never interested in dry academic theories. Instead, he followed his passion in punk music, and spent time in concerts and record stores. After a one-year absence from school, he became a wanderer in India, Pakistan and Europe. Upon his return to Japan, he was admitted to the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, where he finished his graduate studies. After serving as an art teacher, he went to Germany to study at the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf, and set up his studio in Berlin. His growing fame led him to UCLA in the U.S. to serve as a visiting professor and more. He returned to Japan after 12 years of living abroad, and his experience during this period prompted him to pursue a career as an artist for life. Loyal to his own decision, he never wavered much. Writer Banana Yoshimoto once said: "In this day and age, it is difficult to stay true and sincere. But Nara is sincere, of this I have no doubt." She described Nara's paintings depict "an unusually cold world due to loneliness and a deep sense of pain, but never with malice at heart. And I would rather live in such a world." NO MUSIC, NO LIFE! Yoshitomo Nara's rebellious thoughts against the academic authorities during his college years, his memory of childhood experience, and what he heard and saw during his journeys abroad often lingered in the depth of his heart. His artistic inspiration came first from the cover design of his beloved music records. The design format of text and images was a prominent influence in his early drawings. In 2020, the curator of LACMA's Yoshitomo Nara retrospective exhibition, Mika Yoshitake, pointed out the artist's longtime passion in music, which became the theme that ran through the entire exhibition. She said "Ever since Yoshitomo Nara heard folk songs at the age of nine, the covers of all types of albums became one of the means by which he came into contact with and became engrossed in art." The first room of the exhibition displayed more than 300 album covers that Nara has collected since his youth, resulting in a spectacular wall of music. Most of the albums were produced in the late 1960's to the mid 1970's. When he was nine years old, he listened to radio programs on the US military Far East Network radio station, and discovered western folk music as well as rock and roll. Being all by himself at home when he was a child, his boundless imagination was initiated while listening to radio music. No Music, No Life! Indeed, music has always accompanied Nara in life. Yoshitomo Nara stated that: "Whenever I am painting, music enters my ears and directly pours out from my hands." He would listen to music while he worked, and many of his artworks or exhibition titles came from western music song titles or lyrics. Even now, his studio continues to accumulate more rock, blues, soul and punk albums. He can even serve as a historical witness of the evolution of contemporary western music. Different types of music have accompanied Nara through different ages of growth, including: From 1960-1970's, Bob Dylan, The Beatles; in the 1980's, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, punk rock bands such as the Clash, Sex Pistoles, and Ramones, reggae musician Bob Marley, Kraftwerk's electronic music, and Nirvana's rock music; in the 1990's, British rock band Blur and Radiohead, and hip hop music from the Beastie Boys. Yoshitomo Nara has provided the world with comprehensive artistic presentations by devoting himself to creative works, whether it was oil paintings, works on paper, painting on billboards, ceramics, sculptures, installations, photography or prints. His solid creative context is displayed today in the museums, or art galleries or auctions in the forms of artworks we are able to see. Publishing Yoshitomo Nara: The Complete Works when he was just 52 years old, Nara's diligence and his bountiful creativity moved Takashi Murakami greatly. His art has been collected by major museums including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, LACMA in Los Angeles, and numerous museums in Japan.