YOKOO Tadanori

YOKOO Tadanori 横尾 忠則 (1936-) Nishiwaki, Hyogo Pref. Gifted, highly versatile, and prolific painter, print maker, and artist.

Although he is not a photographer by trade, it is one of his hobbies (he took it up in 1970 upon the advice of HOSOE Eikoh).

He also often uses photographic images in his art work. Highly successful (artistically and commercially) and enduring artist with a unique and readily recognizable style.

Posters are his main medium for desseminating his work. They are usually collages showing a myriad of images and art work. They can be overwhelming and loud, or subtle and low-key. The rising sun (with rays), Hokusai-style ocean waves, and Mt. Fuji are prominent and recurrent images in his posters.

He can also paint in different styles. A portrait can be a realistic rendering of the subject, or more like a comic book style. He is incredibly versatile and we cannot categorize him. He has many faces.

He also seems to be somewhat eccentric with a number of unusual collections such as 13,000 postcards of waterfalls (published in a book), books with the word "tensai" (genius) in the title, and figures which are lying down. In Japan, he well deserves to be called "tensai" (genius). (2002.5.22)

Book reviews Waterfall Rapture Familial Rapture

Web site: http://www.tadanoriyokoo.com/