Once Upon a Time 1996

Tadanori Yokoo made this work, called Once Upon a Time, using what looks like print and collage. There’s something about the way these images are layered on top of each other that feels really instinctive to me, a bit like letting my unconscious guide my brush. Look at the baby’s head – it’s like a giant moon in this psychedelic fairytale, pasted right in the middle. The artist isn't trying to trick you, but instead shows us the seams. This feels more like a state of mind. These bold colors and clashing images create a visual feast that’s both chaotic and strangely harmonious. There’s a lot going on, and that’s what makes it so exciting. It reminds me of David Hockney's photo collages, the way he also plays with perspective and fragments reality. Both artists show us that art is an ongoing conversation, a back-and-forth between ideas and images across time.