About the Exhibition
Jennifer Lauren Gallery was delighted to present its first show and the first solo show for the late Masao Obata. After featuring in the successful Souzou: Outsider Art from Japan at the Wellcome Collection in 2013, Obata’s work has rarely been seen in Japan or overseas. This exhibition brought together a collection of 15 works, which were seen alongside a film from 21-25 June 2017 in London.
Obata (b. 1943) moved around many institutions before settling at Hyogo Prefecture where he began to draw in his 60’s. His strong urge to create led him to source large cardboard pieces to draw on from the kitchens in his facility as he felt the paper was too flimsy. He produced thousands of drawings before his passing in 2010, but many were disposed of by the facility who, in the beginning, had not recognised the artistic value of his work.
Obata said, “I am happiest when I am working and by working, I mean drawing.” Claiming he was shy, Obata rarely left the institution, not even venturing into the grounds.
Often creating in red pencil, Obata stated that for him this was the colour of happiness and fulfilment. The major themes in Obata’s work include family and marriage, both of which eluded Obata during his lifetime. He did on occasion say that the works featuring a man, a woman and a child were himself and his parents, and that he missed them profusely. His drawings also featured a characteristic attention to detail when depicting genitalia in his representations of humans. Other themes included things he observed: vehicles, landscapes and plants.
Masao Obata’s work has been seen in several international exhibitions including in Switzerland, Paris and the Netherlands.
Jennifer Gilbert said: “After seeing Obata’s work behind the scenes before being featured in the Japon exhibition at the Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne in 2008, I have been interested in this artists work. Seeing him working in a film during the Wellcome Collection exhibition in 2013 further cemented my enjoyment of his work, especially his fascination with drawing and dressing head-to-toe in red, and the fact he often fell asleep whilst drawing.”