Okamoto Taro was a Japanese artist born in 1911 who studied in Japan and Paris. He developed a style called Polarism which combined abstract and surreal elements. Some of his most famous works include Heavy Industry (1949) depicting post-war Japan, The Myth of Tomorrow (1968/1969) depicting the effects of an atomic bomb, and Tower of the Sun (1970) built for Expo '70 with three faces representing past, present, and future. Taro was a prolific artist and writer who had a significant impact through his experimental works and philosophy of art.

1. Okamoto Taro

2. Biography
•
February 26th, 1911 – January 7th, 1996 (84)
•
Born in Japan and lived there until 1930
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Studied oil painting at Tokyo Fine Arts School
•
1930-1940 moved to Paris and studied at
University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne (1938)
•
1964, Published a book Shinpi Nihon (Mysteries
in Japan)
•
1970, built Tower of the Sun

3. Facts
•
Catchphrase, “Art is Explosion” and “Art is
Magic”
•
Became friends with Alberto Giacometti and
Jean Arp from Paris and joined the
Abstraction-Creation group
•
Was forced to return to Japan during the
1940’s due to Germanies Invasion
•
During 1942-1946, sent to a Chinese base for
the war, when he returned home he found a

4. Facts, Continued
•
Taro had the idea of Polarism which combined
Abstract and Surrealistic traits. Ichiro Hariu, a
art critic says it’s ''a philosophy that called for
venturing into the depths of contradictions
without trying to bring them together with
easy solutions or compromises.'‘ Taro’s
catchphrase also comes from his Polarism
painting viewpoint
•
Taro worked on many journals and essays,
famous ones being “Law of the Jungle”,

5. Recent information
•
Taro was well known in his time and appeared
on TV frequently. His works and popularity
also got him to become the theme producer
for Expo ‘70 in Osaka, which was the first
worlds fair to be held in an Asian country
•
He was said to be a very eccentric and friendly
personality idealistic for the media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv2slOlO7mc
•
Currently his art is held within the Okamoto

6. Heavy Industry
1949
•
This is supposed
to represent the
idea of reckless
capitalism in
postwar japan.
•
It is a depiction of
Japan getting back
on its feat after
the war.

7. Law of the Jungle - 1950

8. The Myth of Tomorrow –
1968/1969
•
Unveiled in 2008, The Myth of Tomorrow
conceptualizes a human being hit by an
atomic bomb.
•
This mural was originally commissioned by a
Mexico City hotel developer in the late 60s.
When the developer became bankrupt, this
mural disappeared for 30 years. After it was

9. The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

10. The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

11. The Myth of Tomorrow Pictures

12. Addition to The Myth of Tomorrow
(Bottom right corner)

13. Tower of the
•
Sun has
The sculpture
three faces. The top
conveying Future,
the front containing
the present, and the
back portraying the
past.

14. Tower of the Sun

15. Tower of the Sun

16. 3D Model of Tower of Sun,
Motherhood(left) , and Youth (Right)

17. Okamoto Taro’s grave

18. Tower of Mother

19. Wounded Arm

20. Picture of Joman Pottery (1956)

21. Examples of Joman pottery
(not taken by Taro)

22. Tree of Life (1970)

23. Tree of Life (breakdown)

24. Tree of Life (large scale)

25. Any questions/comments?