WHAT? Yoshitomo Nara
WHERE? The Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
WHEN? Now until 31st August
WHY GO? For a cultural mash-up. If you’re a fan of Japanese manga, you will know and admire Nara. He may not be a household name here but in Japan this contemporary artist is as famous as Kusama (the dotty queen) and Murakami (the floral king).
Born in 1959, Nara's simplistic wide-eyed signature faces of children may look innocent but his message for adults is peppered with protests to contemplate.
His art is shaped by events that have triggered emotions, like the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster or recent knife crime. Contrarily, there is a lack of frivolity behind those 'cartoon-like' faces when slogans like ‘Stop the Bomb’ appear.
This is Nara’s first show in the UK and, spread across the spacious Hayward Gallery, his tearful kids with spidery eyelashes are mesmerising, if not a little disturbing.
Along with ‘kitsch’ sculptures, the whole effect is like entering the pages of a comic book.
The show opens with a ‘Wendy House’ full of punky paraphernalia, debris from a teenager’s night listening to rock ’n’ roll. This humorously references the western music Nara enjoyed on American military stations in post-war Japan.
The whole exhibition reverberates with nostalgic music from names like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake and their anti-war songs as it chronicles Nara’s progress from being an art student in Germany to becoming a global celebrated voice that packs a punch in today’s contemporary art world.

IN THE KNOW The Nara exhibition catalogue is one to treasure, spanning four decades of his work, lavishly illustrated (£35).
Or, for a cultural fest and deep dive into his work, check out Let’s Talk About Nara, an afternoon of talks by leading art historians covering the evolution of his art to passion for music (28th June). Check online for info.