Yasumasa Morimura Sneaks into Famous Paintings
The artist questions the concept of identity by transforming himself, thanks to makeup, costumes, and prosthetics, into renowned portraits.
Yasumasa Morimura, ‘An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Collar of Thorns)’, 2001. Courtesy of ShugoArts
From Van Gogh to Duchamp via Kahlo, Yasumasa Morimura plays the role of popular figures represented in various iconic works throughout the history of art. In transforming himself into a painting by dressing up or using photomontage or image synthesis, Yasumasa Morimura merges as much as possible with the character portrayed, seeking to recreate the state of mind that the subject might have been in at the time.
Born in Osaka in 1951, the artist, a graduate from Kyoto City University of Arts, has specialised in the appropriation and reinterpretation of iconic works of art since the early 1980s.
Adding a Japanese touch
However, the artist is not content to simply recreate these works: he adds Japanese details to his scenes. Thus, Paul Cézanne’s A Modern Olympia is shown beside a maneki neko (a beckoning cat), and Frida Kahlo’s hair is adorned with kanzashi, ornaments worn by geisha and maiko during their performances.
A museum dedicated to the work of Yasumasa Morimura opened in Osaka in November 2018, the Morimura at Museum. His creations can also be viewed on his Instagram account.
More information on Yasumasa Morimura can be found on the Morimura at Museum website.
Courtesy of ShugoArts
Yasumasa Morimura, ‘Une moderne Olympia’, 2018. Courtesy of ShugoArts
Courtesy of ShugoArts
Courtesy of ShugoArts
Courtesy of ShugoArts
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