Man and Woman

Although he was installed as a judge of Nitten Exhibition while in his 30's and was regarded as a young hope for the future, Nakamura suddenly withdrew from Nitten. He exhibited this painting, named "Man and Woman", in his first solo exhibition, also entitled "Man and Woman, after leaving Nitten Exhibition. This exhibition was an opportunity to get the public's evaluation of his worth as a painter, and the public was astonished by the changes in his painting style; i.e., rough and beating brush strokes as well as the use of vivid colors such as from acrylic and fluorescent paints. However, due to influences from postwar abstract paintings and experimental works using a variety of materials freely during the Showa Period, around 1955 to 1965, there were many painters or works which did not follow the conventional Japanese painting style concerning elements such as technique, theme, material, etc. As a result the concept of "Japanese painting" was turned upside down.
After we understand these trends, this painting shows us that emotions such as anger and sadness, and screaming are expressed as they are, in a straight way, which would have been expressed in a stereotypical style or a reserved, symbolic style in the conventional Japanese painting world.
(Source: Selected Works from the Collection of Nagoya City Art Museum, 1998, P. 87.)