Japanese Artist Mr. - Metamorphosis at Lehmann Maupin Gallery, NYC

Japanese Artist Mr.: Metamorphosis: Give Me Your Wings / Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

The current exhibition at Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York presents new works by Japanese artist Mr. The centerpiece is a huge, complex installation composed of garbage and everyday objects from Japanese life. The piece deals with the devastation and nuclear disaster in Eastern Japan following the earthquakes and Tsunami in March 2011. A counterpoint to this thoughtful installation are the colorful and uplifting paintings the artist has created for the exhibition. The new paintings are part of Mr.'s ongoing exploration of otaku, the Japanese "cute" subculture that is characterized by the obsession with manga, anime, video games, and sci-fi literature.

Mr. was born in 1969 in Cupa, Japan. Mr. lives and works in Saitama. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Sokei Art School, in Tokyo, in 1996. As former protégé of Takashi Murakami has been closely involved with Murakami's studio and his enterprise, Kaikai Kiki. Mr. has been participating in exhibitions such as Krazy: the Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture at Japan Society, in New York.

Mr.: Metamorphosis: Give Me Your Wings / Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York. Opening in September, 2012. Video by Shimon Azulay.