Cute and dark, naughty and playful…
Cute. The Dark Side explores the hidden messages and meanings behind the art of some of the most important contemporary artists of the new millennium including Yoshitomo Nara, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Charming Baker, Javier Calleja, Shepard Fairey, and David Shrigley alongside a new generation of artists whom they have inspired.
The exhibition delves into the aesthetic styles of Japanese Superflat and Kawaii and how they have influenced the way young people express their thoughts and feelings more candidly, enabling them to cope with the pressures of contemporary life in a more positive and life-affirming way.
Superflat is a postmodern art movement founded by Takashi Murakami originally influenced by Manga and Anime. The Superflat style refers to the history of non-three-dimensional styles of Japanese art but also remarks on the flat shallowness of consumer culture.
Yume Kawaii (Dream Cute) centres on fantasy dreams and nightmares, embodying a cute and romanticised world view in pastel colours. The fashion accessories usually consist of sleep masks, fluffy skirts or pants, loose socks and platform shoes.
Yami Kawaii (Cute Sick) is an aesthetic mash-up of frills, hearts and pretty fonts that have emanated out of the streets of Japan and manifested through the display of symbols such as fake guns, pills, syringes, gas masks, bandages and band aids.