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Desire and Consumption - KAIYODO and OTAKU Culture Art Tour Tour

In respect to the vision currently proposed for the culture innovation industry that follows the example of the counter-culture in our neighbouring country, Japan, it is worth introducing and discussing to a great length the impact of the amazing production output of the culture industry of animated comics and models on mass counter culture and contemporary art creation. Therefore, this museum is holding the exhibition on “Desire and Consumption - KAIYODO and OTAKU Culture,” which showcases three thousand pieces of large, medium and small models centering around the 40-year development history of Japan’s model group “Kaiyodo.” As its history is reflected in retrospect, the nature and origin of modern Japan Otaku culture and counter culture, contemporary art and the culture of desire and consumption, which encompass the model culture and aesthetics, can be further explored. Dubbed as the collector by the model community, Kaiyodo was founded in 1964. It began a wave of assembled models in the 1970s. And beginning from 1980s, it gradually made characters in cartoons, comics and movies into 3-D models, bringing a revolutionary development in model making. Towards the later half of the 1990s, mass production ensued and cheap ‘snack toys’ created a trendy stir. In 2003, it worked with the Japanese artist, Tsunshanglong and produced character toys equivalent to adult sizes. They were considered as the ultimate presentation of Kaiyodo’s model production. With respect to the model culture, Kaoyodo constantly initiates various kinds of inspirational activities and its works are exquisite and refined. Not only is it highly praised by model collectors, it has also made an important contribution to the model culture that is exclusive to Japan over the past 40 years.