What lies behind the operatic gaze of Yoshitomo Nara’s singular wide-eyed, large-headed children? Appearing melancholic, at times defiant, there seems to exist a profound sense of nostalgia and familiarity within the Japanese artist’s allegorical iconography, which reveals more about his inner world than initially meets the eye. Honest memories of his childhood, radical coming-of-age experiences and a curious outlook in the realms of music, art and popular culture are just a few of the things that make Nara’s universe not so much esoteric but inviting. Above all, it’s his raw portrayal of the human condition – beautiful, frail and, at times, bewildering – that renders his creations so hypnotising.
