Opportunities to see artworks by Yoshitomo Nara have increased dramatically in recent weeks — and it's not just because of his exhibition, "a bit like you and me...," which is at the Yokohama Museum of Art through Sept. 23.
Nara has long been opposed to nuclear weapons and nuclear power, and several of his paintings over the years have featured resolute-looking young girls holding signs reading "No Nukes." One of those paintings in particular, now known as "No Nukes Girl," has started to crop up at rallies being held around the country to oppose the use of nuclear power.
"That painting has a history of being used in demonstrations," Nara explains. "It first happened in 1997, right after I painted it. A friend sent a photo of someone carrying a printout of the picture at a rally against nuclear weapons in Bangkok. I had no idea about it."