This fall, join us for the first NY institutional solo exhibition of one of Japan's most prolific and versatile contemporary artists, Yasumasa Morimura. Ego Obscura highlights Morimura's 30-year-long project of excavating "the self" from layers of art history, Japanese postwar history, and personal history.
In addition to major photographic self-portraits, for which Morimura transformed himself into iconic artistic and pop culture figures, the exhibition will also feature the U.S. premiere of the artist's first full-length video work, Egó Sympósion (2016) and his latest cinematic installation Egó Obscura (2018), in conjunction with a live performance, Morimura’s Nippon Cha Cha Cha!, staged by the artist on the opening weekend.
Admission: $12/$10 students and seniors
Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Welcome Desk or online in advance.
Exhibition-Related Programming
Audio Tour
Listen to the audio tour of Japan Society's fall exhibition, Yasumasa Morimura: Ego Obscura, on view through January 13, 2019. Narration by Michael Chagnon, Ph.D., Curator of Exhibition Interpretation. Hear the full audio tour here.Catalogue
 Get the official Yasumasa Morimura: Ego Obscura catalogue, along with catalogues of past Japan Society exhibitions at our online store. Also available for purchase in-person at the Japan Society Welcome Desk. |
Selected Works
Exhibition Preview
Olympia
Mishima
Dürer
van Gogh
Visitor Information
| Gallery Hours: Tuesday—Thursday, 12 PM—7 PM Friday, 12 PM—9 PM Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM—5 PM Closed Mondays and on major holidays. Admission: $12/$10 students and seniors Free for Japan Society members (Join today!) Free for patrons with disabilities and an accompanying Personal Care Assistant Free admission on Fridays from 6—9 PM |
Group Tours: Tailored private tours for organizations and school groups are available upon request. To arrange tours please call (212) 715-1224. Two weeks advance request recommended. Docent Tours: Tuesday—Saturday at 2:30 PM, Friday at 7 PM Japanese Language Tour, Friday at 6 PM Free with gallery admission. |
Yasumasa Morimura: Ego Obscura is supported, in part, by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation; The Japan Foundation, New York; The Metropolitan Center for Far Eastern Studies, Kyoto; and Shigesuke and Noriko Kashiwagi.
Additional support is provided by Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the exclusive Japanese airline sponsor.
Visual equipment is generously donated by NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
Exhibitions and Arts & Culture Lecture Programs at Japan Society are made possible in part by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund, the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Friends of the Gallery. Additional support for Japan Society's Gallery is provided by Mrs. Jane B. DeBevoise, Laurel Gonsalves, and Dr. Miyeko Murase. Support for Arts & Culture Lecture Programs is provided, in part, by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.
Yasumasa Morimura, Van Gogh / Blue, 2016. Courtesy of the artist. © Yasumasa Morimura
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Additional support is provided by Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the exclusive Japanese airline sponsor.
Visual equipment is generously donated by NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
Exhibitions and Arts & Culture Lecture Programs at Japan Society are made possible in part by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund, the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Friends of the Gallery. Additional support for Japan Society's Gallery is provided by Mrs. Jane B. DeBevoise, Laurel Gonsalves, and Dr. Miyeko Murase. Support for Arts & Culture Lecture Programs is provided, in part, by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.
Yasumasa Morimura, Van Gogh / Blue, 2016. Courtesy of the artist. © Yasumasa Morimura