Ego Obscura

“Ego Obscura,” an exhibition by Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura, is a provocative show. The exhibit at the Japan Society was the U.S. premiere of the artist’s first full-length video work, Egó Sympósion (2016) and his latest cinematic installation Egó Obscura (2018). (By Thairy Lantigua)

Morimura attempts to show how there’s nothing essential about the self. His signature practice is to insert his own body as the subject in pop cultural and historical imagery.

Morimura has been at the forefront of international contemporary art for 30 years. Some of his projects include photography, sculpture, performing arts and video.

The exhibit was put on in conjunction with a live performance, of Morimura’s Nippon Cha Cha Cha!

“It’s very intriguing to see how he sees the human evolution throughout history,y but also how he set himself changing with it,” said Erick De la Rosa, 19, a student of visual arts in Hostos Community College.

Morimura includes paintings of relevant artists and different objects that represented the range of the human nature and the different ways it can be expressed. Pictured here is Skull as a Fruit.

“It’s very intriguing to see how he sees the human evolution throughout history, but also how he set himself changing with it,” said visitor Erick De la Rosa, 19, a student of visual arts in Hostos Community College.

Others found Morimura’s appropriation of famous work disappointing. Alexander Katzowicz, 57, a writer, producer, and director said he thought that the exposition was an empty story without meaning or purpose “He is trying to reach fame by portraying famous painting that we all know,” he said. “He has the resources to create exceptional art but projects no message but his ego when putting himself in every painting.”

The Japan Society does these types of events on a monthly basis: concerts, forums, breakfasts, social events, film panels, and workshops.