Yoshitomo Nara’s Running Nose Brothers of 2002 presents two figures, both with running noses. This motif features repeatedly across Nara’s work and is emblematic of the messy, playful and vulnerable aspects of childhood. Similarly, the crossed plasters, seen here on the larger brother’s forehead, allude to the everyday scrapes and bumps that punctuate the process of growing up. While Nara often isolates his figures, presenting them as solitary individuals, Running Nose Brothers is notable for its depiction of two characters together. Despite their direct, unblinking stares at the viewer and lack of obvious interaction, a sense of fraternal bond is subtly suggested. This connection may stem from their similar appearances, which evoke the way younger children often look up to and mimic their older siblings. The monochromatic palette and minimal background draw attention to the figures’ intense gazes, amplifying the vulnerability, discomfort, and quiet tenderness shared between them.
“Through painting representational features such as eyes, noses, and mouths, I wanted to express something deeper. This deeper thing cannot be described with language. Yet, people will understand.”
— Yoshitomo Nara
Nara’s broader practice centres on his recurring childlike figures, who embody a delicate balance between innocence and rebellion. The artist grew up in a remote town in picturesque Aomori, the northernmost province of Japan, located approximately 700 kilometres north of Tokyo. He has recalled a profound loneliness in his childhood; “When you are a kid, you are too young to know you are lonely, sad, upset,” said Nara, “…now I know I was.” His young characters are reflective of this notion, each image a glimpse into another facet of his internal psyche. At the same time, the vivid colours and clean compositions typical of his style make these emotions feel both personal and universal, inviting viewers to reflect on their own inner worlds. Often depicted alone, these characters inhabit quiet, self-contained worlds, amplifying their emotional intensity and individuality. With unwavering gazes and subtle signs of defiance, such as the crossed plasters in Running Nose Brothers, Nara’s figures give voice to the raw, unfiltered emotions of childhood, from vulnerability and frustration to pride and resilience.
“Yoshitomo Nara had never hesitated to try new techniques, and he never failed.”
— Hitoshi Kido
Running Nose Brothers is one of Nara’s twelve etchings printed in collaboration with master printer Hitoshi Kido at KIDO Press Gallery in Tokyo. Executed early in the artist’s career, they were his first series of etchings and Nara drew on the original etching plates himself, unlike for later editioned prints. The body of work innovatively draws on the wealth of traditional Japanese printmaking techniques while utilising etching, aquatint, drypoint, and more. To read more about Yoshitomo Nara’s collaboration with KIDO Press Gallery, read our interview with master printer Hitoshi Kido here.
