If you struggle to grasp the messages behind wacky, contemporary art but still enjoy looking at weird sculptures made of everyday objects, you might relate to Japanese businessman and Misumi Group founder Hiroshi Taguchi. Taguchi had no fundamental knowledge or background in contemporary art but took great pleasure in collecting and acquiring elaborate contemporary art pieces in the '80s and '90s. Today, the Taguchi Art Collection (or, Tagukore for short) comprises about 500 works by some of the world's most significant contemporary artists, from Andy Warhol to Keith Haring.
Rather than storing these valuable artworks away, the art collection's managers, including Taguchi's daughter Miwa, strive to honour the owner's belief that art should be accessible to all. Therefore, they have organised a grand exhibition at the Kadokawa Culture Museum.
Highlights range from Superflex's facetious 'It Is Not The End of the World' sign to Tadashi Nishino's towering installation in which a set of bedside cabinets, bed, sofa and streetlight are stacked on top of a section of a car. There are about 52 works to see, and you don't have to worry about having an in-depth knowledge of art to appreciate any of it. Each piece is accompanied by easy-to-understand explanations, rejecting the notion of pretentious art culture and bringing viewers of all ages and backgrounds closer to the featured artists and their stories.