Hiroshi Yamamoto "All is Vanity"

Umeno Memorial Museum of Art

Finished

Artists

Hiroshi Yamamoto

This exhibition introduces Hiroshi Yamamoto, a unique painter who spent most of his life in Iida, Shinshu, and committed suicide at the age of 51.

Yamamoto spent his impressionable teenage years during the period of confusion that followed the rapid transition from militarism to democracy during and after World War II, and began to attempt suicide around this time, perhaps because his pure spirit was damaged by the reversal of values in society.

At the age of 17, he was selected for the All-Shinshu Art Exhibition, the predecessor of the Nagano Prefectural Exhibition, and was known locally for his ability. However, he became addicted to alcohol due to excessive drinking and was in and out of the hospital repeatedly before hanging himself.

In his later years, after a cerebral thrombosis caused by excessive alcohol consumption left him crippled, Hiroshi Yamamoto began painting with a palette knife instead of mixing paints, and his works have a strong appeal, distinguished by their uninhibited touch and beautiful colors.

This is the first solo retrospective exhibition at a public museum of this artist, who was discovered by art critic Ichiro Hariu after his death and became widely known in Japan.

[Event]
Talk Event: "The Paintings of Hiroshi Yamamoto and His Person"
Speakers: Masayoshi Sonehara and Nagaaki Otake (Director of the museum)
Date: September 9, 2023, 13:30-
Venue: Umeno Memorial Picture Gallery Hall
For details and registration, please visit the official website.

Schedule

Sep 9 (Sat) 2023-Nov 26 (Sun) 2023