Chapter Commentaries 10

Uno discovered the fun of designing an exhibition space with his audience in mind in 1987, when he held an exhibit at Tokyu Department Store Shibuya Store. Ever since, he has chosen a theme for his personal exhibits and published a related collection of his works.

Classical Style I (1987) was one of the works shown at this turning-point event. It was in bright colors and painted with skilled brushwork, a form of expression that sprang out of his rediscovery of the joy of painting during the 1980s. "Le Cinema," his 1991 exhibit, had classic movies as its theme. One of the pictures was Boulevard du Rhum: Bridget Bardot and Lino Ventura. The following year, the exhibit was "OH! CÉZANNE." The title work was an homage to Paul Cézanne, a Post-Impressionist painter. 1996 saw the ambitious "Akira Uno 3WEEKS Exhibit." The theme of week one was "Study of Tatsuhiko Shibusawa," followed by two other themes in the succeeding weeks. In contrast to his regular work, exhibits have no limitations on motifs or expressions. The freedom to decide every aspect of them is a real pleasure for Uno. He has even experimented with live paintings, a concept that came out of stage design, to create a discussion between the artist and the audience.

As the new century began, Uno started exhibiting human forms made of stone powder clay. At the same time, he was making puppets for a Dance Element stage performance. His past interest in puppets has returned, and to this day, he continues to make three-dimensional pieces with stories to them.