TERAOKA Masami

(Japan, United States of America 1936– )

Title

31 Flavours Invading Japan/French Vanilla IV

Place of origin

Japan

Period

Shôwa period 1926 - 1988 → Japan

Year

1979

Media category

Materials used

colour screenprint

Edition

A.P.

Dimensions

28.0 x 139.5cm image; 46.0 x 156.0 x 4.4cm frame

Signature & date

Signed l.l., in Japanese, ink [printed] "Teraoka Masami ga [picture by Teraoka Masami]". Not dated.

Credit

Thea Proctor Memorial Fund 1989

Accession number

343.1989

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

Masami Teraoka draws on his unique blend of Japanese/American heritage to comment on contemporary society. Teraoka moved to Los Angeles in 1961 and made his reputation through his witty prints which, drawing stylistically on traditional 'ukiyo-e' prints, satirise contemporary lifestyles. His sophisticated works warrant close study, so rich are they in wit, nuance (often salacious and erotic) and visual and verbal puns. The print '31 flavours invading Japan' perfectly exemplifies his style. The title is a reference to the marketing onslaught of the American firm Baskin-Robbins on the Japanese consumer market. In a successful attempt to get Japanese eating icecream cones, brightly coloured stalls offering '31 flavours' sprang up all around Tokyo. The main figure resembles a typical 'ukiyo-e' courtesan, particularly those by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864). The courtesan, over-adorned with hair combs, holds a melting icecream cone while reaching for napkins, a modern version of a favourite 19th century erotic convention.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.256.

Bibliography (3)

Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Author), The Floating World: Japan's world of transient pleasures, Sydney, 1994, not paginated. catalogue no: C27

'Asian Favourites' by Jackie Menzies, pg. 24-27., Look Sep 2003, Sep 2003, 24-25 (colour illus.).

'The Floating World', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 256 (colour illus.). The colour illus. on page 256 is a detail of this work.

Exhibition history (2)

Japanese prints of the 20th century, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 23 Jun 1990–12 Aug 1990.

The Floating World: Japan's World of transient pleasures, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 May 1994–17 Jul 1994.