Women, erotic scenes, superheroes, robots and comic characters inhabit the glaring, opulent universe of Keiichi Tanaami‘s collages. Their imagery is intensive, rich in colors and motives, and visually overwhelming. The works presented at the Gallery Gebr. Lehmann in Berlin come from the late 1960s and the early 1970s. They were created shortly after Keiichi Tanaami‘s stay in the USA and reflect his fascination with the aesthetics of Pop Art and Flower Power. Film industry, music culture and also growing consume and discovery of sexual freedom influenced the young artist at that time.
Already in his early works, Keiichi Tanaami manages to create the characteristic synthesis of multiple dimensions of times and cultures. Traditional Japanese drawings are combined with comics, photographs of Hollywood stars are overlapped with rockets and tanks, next to medieval motives The Beatles pop up. The mixture of western and eastern cultural images, typical for the artist, not only forms the strong visual aesthetic but also serves as a particular act of reconciliation - as a child Tanaami witnessed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima.
Emotionally as well as artistically autobiographical, Keiichi Tanaami‘s collages give precious insights into the early, temporarily forgotten creative period of this Pop Art classic.


opening hours: Tue - Sat 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

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