Once in a Life 一期一會

Yoshitomo Nara is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the day. His works are very accessible, so much so that at times we do not look hard enough because we feel we understand them already. But how much do we really know about his angry, yet cute looking little girls? How is it that we all feel we recognize the emotions being portrayed? What makes his art so relevant to such a wide range of viewers?

Following from Asia Society Hong Kong Center’s preceding exhibition, Life is Only One: Yoshitomo Nara, this publication is not only a compilation of the works in the exhibition, but also an extension with the inclusion of other works and essays that present the artist and his art from his life experiences and memories. Extra thoughts into his inspirations are offered by looking at his childhood, his time in Germany, his love for music, and the aftermath of the 2011 Earthquake. Like small pieces of a puzzle, they piece together little-known stories about the artist and above all his thoughts on life.

奈良美智被公認為當代最具影響力的藝術家之一。他的作品十分平易近人，以致我們有時會因自以為完全理解他的創作而看得不夠仔細。但對於他筆下憤世卻可愛小女孩們，我們又了解多少呢？我們為何會自覺能夠辨識他所描繪的種種情緒？又是甚麽讓奈良的藝術能與廣泛的觀衆產生共鳴？

繼亞洲協會香港中心此前展覽《無常人生：奈良美智》後，本書收錄了其他在展覽以外的作品，以及幾篇從奈良的人生經歷和回憶探討其創作的文章。透過細看藝術家的童年、他在德國的經歷、對音樂的熱愛和2011年東日本大震災的影響，提出了更多關於奈良的藝術創作的想法。猶如拼圖一般，奈良的人生點滴一塊一塊地拼湊出鮮為人知的故事，以及他對人生的思考。

Dominique Chan is the Head of Gallery & Exhibition of Asia Society Hong Kong Center and responsible for the public art installations and exhibitions in the Chantal Miller Gallery. Chan has organized a diverse range of exhibitions to Hong Kong including Transforming Minds: Buddhism in Art (2012), Light before Dawn: Unofficial Chinese Art 1974–1985 (2013), Guggenheim’s No Country: Contemporary Art for South and Southeast Asia (2013), Light and Shadows: Caravaggio—The Italian Baroque Master (2013–2014), It Begins with Metamorphosis: Xu Bing (2014), Temple, Scrolls, and Divine Messengers: Archaeology of the Land of Israel in Roman Times (2014–2015) and Life is Only One: Yoshitomo Nara (2015). Chan is the recipient of the 2013/14 Hong Kong International Scholarships supported by the Government of Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Arts Development Council to join the Clore Leadership Program in the United Kingdom and seconded at Tate Modern in London.

Fumio Nanjo is director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo and involved in the selection committees of several art awards and artist-in-residence programs. A renowned curator with over 20 years arts experience, he has worked in significant roles at numerous biennales worldwide including commissioner of the Taipei Biennale (1998); jury member of the Turner Prize at the Tate Gallery, London (1998); selection committee member of the Sydney Biennale (2000); jury member of the Golden Lion Prize, Venice Biennale (2005); and artistic director of the Singapore Biennale (2006).

陳少東目前擔任亞洲協會香港中心麥禮賢夫人藝術館館長，統籌中心內的公共藝術裝置和展覽項目，其中包括：《緣生意轉：佛教的藝術》（2012）；《黎明曙光：1974至1985年中國的前衛藝術》（2013）；與紐約古根漢美術館聯合策劃的《越域：南亞及東南亞當代藝術展》（2013–2014）；《光‧影──意大利巴洛克藝術大師‧卡拉瓦喬》（2014）；《徐冰：變形記》（2014）；《聖殿、經卷與使者：羅馬時代以色列地區之考古發現》（2014–2015）以及《無常人生：奈良美智》。陳少東曾獲香港藝術發展局頒發由香港政府支持的2013至14年度香港獎學金，參與英國的Clore文化領袖培訓計劃，並實習於倫敦泰特現代藝術館。