Childhood memories such as the scenery in Yokoo Tadanori’s hometown of Nishiwaki, the protagonists in his favorite books, and the movies he saw at the theatre provide the artist with a source of inspiration. They are also reflected in a variety of ways in his works. For example, the school uniform-clad youths in Yokoo’s pictures are a reference to the characters in one of Edogawa Ranpo’s novels. Meanwhile, the divers who roam through the sea recall Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the scenes of dense forests and caves bring to mind the picture-book series Shonen oja (King of the Boys) and Tarzan movies. In addition to conveying Yokoo’s enduringly youthful heart, these elements remind us of the adventurous spirit of childhood and the way we once approached everything we saw with excitement.

This exhibition focuses on Yokoo’s playful spirit by introducing the influence of things from Yokoo’s boyhood in his works, while also presenting the books that he actually read, and archival documents that provide insight into his art.