entertainment

Takeshi Kitano exhibition in Tokyo not supposed to make sense

22 Comments
By Steven Simonitch

Renowned as a filmmaker abroad and adored as a TV host and comedian at home, “Beat” Takeshi Kitano is perhaps Japan’s greatest living entertainer.

Most recently, Takeshi made his mark as an artist, showcasing a collection of original paintings, bizarre objects and interactive installations in his first major exhibition, held in 2010 at the Foundation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris.

If you didn’t get the chance to fly out to Paris 2 years ago, fear not: the exhibition, titled “Gosse de peintre,” is now at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in Shinjuku until Sept 2

We recently had the opportunity to attend a promotional event held at the exhibition and can say with confidence that, whether you’re more familiar with the dark and witty Kitano on the big screen or the goofy jokester Beat on TV, “Gosse de peintre” captures the essence of Takeshi and is a must-do for any fan.

While photography is normally forbidden at the exhibition, the staff were kind enough to make an exception for us during the event, and take photos we did. In fact, if you’re planning on visiting the exhibition yourself, you may not want to scroll down to the bottom of the page as the pictures do contain spoilers: many of the pieces on display feature subtle gimmicks and gags that should be enjoyed in person if possible.

That said, our particular favorite were the “secret weapons” of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army. A whale grafted to a fighter plane and an armor-plated elephant with a large gun mounted on its trunk would surely have turned the tides of war had they only been deployed in time.

Of course, there are also more serious works on display. The walls are lined with paintings from when Takeshi first picked up a brush during rehabilitation following a motorcycle accident in 1994 that left his face partially paralyzed.

While we think there is plenty to keep you entertained at the exhibition, there is also a gift shop next door stocked with plenty of Takeshi-related merchandise for you to take home in case you didn’t get your fill.

So what does Takeshi want viewers to take away from this exhibition?

Nothing, probably. ” I don’t define myself as a contemporary artist. I’m just a modest idea maker. I feel very embarrassed when people define me as an artist. I want to show pieces. Easy to understand, funny pieces. I want to share with you the pleasure that I had by creating this exhibition,” he says during a press conference at the original Paris exhibition.

“I think everyone is expecting there to be some meaning behind the images or objects on display. There isn’t. I just want you to have fun.”

Information: Beat Takeshi Kitano, Gosse de peintre Through Sunday Spt 2, 2012 Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery

Admission: Adults 1,300 yen, university and high school students 1,000 yen, junior high and elementary students 800 yen.

Hours: 11:00 – 19:00 (to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Entry up to 30 minutes before closing.) Closed on Mondays (Tuesday if the Monday is a public holiday), Aug 5 (Maintenance day).

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


22 Comments
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This guy is patently insane.

And not in a good way.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

whether you’re more familiar with the dark and witty Kitano on the big screen or the goofy jokester Beat on TV

Goofy Jokester? I think Bertie's description of clearly insane would be a more accurate summary.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

I like most of his movies and would like to see the exhibition. As to the man himself, not a huge fan given many of his comments and snide remarks, and the way he treats people on the variety shows.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"Japan's greatest living entertainer"

Not by a long shot.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Well, you could at least say he's as talented as your average high school art student.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"...Japan’s greatest living entertainer."

I need a drink.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

“Beat” Takeshi Kitano is perhaps Japan’s greatest living entertainer.

That's hardly difficult.

I hate the man, he's painful to watch.

That said, our particular favorite were the “secret weapons” of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army. A whale grafted to a fighter plane and an armor-plated elephant with a large gun mounted on its trunk

Oh, hohohohoho. Hilarious! Can someone get me some suture for my sides, please?

would surely have turned the tides of war had they only been deployed in time.

Yeah, the brutal war crimes that the Japanese committed could have been brightened up a million-fold!

whether you’re more familiar with the dark and witty Kitano on the big screen or the goofy jokester Beat on TV

"Goofy jokester" should read "sad to watch, unfunny old man".

2 ( +7 / -5 )

"And The Beat Goes On".

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Beat Takeshi and the rest of the Japanese talentless "talents" are the main reason we decided not to put in a TV when we moved to Okinawa six years ago.

Life is MUCH, MUCH better without it!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I am prepared to agree that this talentless gimp is probably Japan's greatest living entertainer. I once saw him shout, eat food, hit someone with a squeaky hammer and wear brightly-coloured clothes within the space of an hour.

Truly Japan's answer to Sammy Davis Jr.

Dear Gawd. The words "Japanese", "talent" and "entertainment" should never be used in the same sentence, unless the sentence reads, "It is immediately apparent to anyone with a double-digit IQ that Japan's entertainment industry is a vast desert of shouting morons, none of whom have a shred of talent".

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I have seen leg ulcers with more entertainment value than Beat Takeshi.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Bertie: "Beat Takeshi and the rest of the Japanese talentless "talents" are the main reason we decided not to put in a TV when we moved to Okinawa six years ago."

I agree with you there (save for his movies). I still have my analog TV sitting atop my TV stand and use it only for DVDs if I feel the need. I am WAY happier without the TV, though with the Olympics starting...

As for Beat, well, sorry peeps, he may well be a scumbag, but he's made some decent movies. Like I said, I don't like the man, but some of his work is not all that bad -- and that's the reason he's well known in other nations, and I'd much rather watch his work than hear the squawking of AKB48 or other local crap that NEVER sees world-wide attention save for the confusion over why middle aged Japanese men like junior highschool girls in lingerie.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

His extra-marital affairs do not seem to have dented his popularity, especially in France.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Insane? Vulgar might be a better word.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Brother Psmithinjapan

As you say, the man does appear to have made some decent movies.

Perhaps he is more suited to that medium. I can't stand to see him on TV. He makes me cringe, I'm afraid.

Yet, in the old days of "Oretachi hyokinzoku," I thought that he and Sanma-san were entertaining. Well, a step up from "Dorifu" anyway.

That was before his accident.

Since then ...

I suppose I should feel sorry for him, but I don't.

On TV, he's a self-opinionated, rude lout who enjoys people's misfortunes more than is healthy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow. Why is it that just the mere mention of anyone over the age of 50 will cause the commenters on this website to go beserk?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

i like his movies, but seeing him on TV also doesn't make sense to me

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Jonathan - not "anyone over 50". Just anyone who the local media pretend is an internationally-celebrated creative genius, when he is in reality a talent vacuum who believes a wig and a squeaky hammer to be the very zenith of comedic innovation.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I enjoy his books. Especially 裸の王様, where he questions a lot of things about Japan, including the TV shows where people just go to restaurants and eat. He said "Why would I want to watch someone else have a good time?"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I admire him. Granted he plays the Clown on a few TV-Shows, but is dead serious on others.

He has won many awards for his movies, books, paintings(he did all the paintings for a recent movie himself), etc. If you call that talentless, list yours own and your awards.

Granted he is not for everyone's tastes but he got to take what it takes now to do his own stuff and say 'F... y.. If you don't like it".

And I thought they were still rerunning episodes of "Takeshi's Castle" overseas? Never mind that he was great in 'Fury/Merry X-Mas Mr. Lawrence".

Personally not fond of Andy Warhol, but do I call him a talentless person or talk down on what he does? No, I don't I say it is not to my liking. case closed.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Whenever I used to see him and his gang abusing and making fun of socially weaker people, in my mind's eye I started to imagine him in army uniform back during the war doing terrible things to the local populace for amusement. Luckily times are different today and he is not a colonel abusing people with real weapons.

Maybe he is a genius, but so were a lot of unsavory people in history.

This kind of person I find hard to like or admire, perhaps because I have the same latent tendencies inside myself.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Beat” Takeshi Kitano

"Okay."

1 ( +4 / -3 )

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