A few weekends ago I was reading through the Japan Times and found a write-up on the controversial exhibit at the Mori Art Museum at the top of my office building, the Mori Tower.

It so happened that the boys were on a school trip and I took a few days off to explore with Narda, so we put the exhibit of Makto Aida on our list and headed over for a Monday afternoon viewing. I love the entrance.

This ends the photos as it is a museum, and photography is not allowed. I will admit that I was drawn to Aida’s work due to the write-up which suggested he was unique, contentious and an adventurer. His work spanned traditional pieces such as his Roman bust charcoal that is breathtaking and “traditional” – it must have been 10’ high and was a testament to his underlying skill as an artist – significant.

For the art explorer, you will not be disappointed by the breadth of art – using all kinds of mediums – video, photographs, repurposed newspaper and brochures and on and on. It was fun to explore and of course I loved his rather twisted pieces such as the salary man mountain (read about it in the article). I thoroughly enjoyed 95% of the exhibit and enjoyed his talent, even though I found the room by room narrative where he explained his “motivations/inspirations” filled with the usual artist pretentiousness.

But I was also disappointed. In the “you must be 18” area it is filled with rather disturbing images, the worst being a pornographic, intensely offensive, graphic and perverse anti-American manga around WWII, Okinawa and rape.

I get the shock factor and testing the limits, but some things just do not need to be displayed and “in the name of my art” has limits. This Canadian left disgusted and of the opinion that Aida should be ashamed of himself.