Tarō Okamoto. Reinventing Japan

The exhibition “Tarō Okamoto. Reinventing Japan” at the musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac highlights until 7 September 2025, one of the central figures of the Japanese avant-garde, little known in France: the multidisciplinary artist Tarō Okamoto. A painter, sculptor, muralist, photographer, writer and researcher, Okamoto left an indelible mark on contemporary Japanese art. Born in 1911 and deceased in 1996, he combined various forms of artistic expression to create unique and innovative works.

An exceptional retrospective

The exhibition focuses on the period from 1930 to 1970, highlighting emblematic works by the artist. Among these, the famous ‘Tower of the Sun ’, a monumental sculpture created for the Universal Exhibition of 1970 in Osaka, is a highlight of the retrospective. This work, which housed a mysterious underground exhibition of masks and statues, is a perfect illustration of Okamoto's boldness and creativity. His visionary work has had a profound impact on contemporary art.

An original dialogue with the museum's collections

The exhibition offers an original dialogue between Okamoto's works and the collections of the musée du quai Branly. This face-to-face encounter allows you to discover the artist from a new angle, by comparing his creations with ethnographic and artistic objects from the civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. This original itinerary invites you to explore Okamoto's influences and inspirations, while highlighting his unique artistic heritage.

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