Kansuke Yamamoto

Kansuke Yamamoto was a Japanese avant-garde artist and poet, known for his surrealist and experimental works. He was born in Nagoya, Japan, and initially trained as a painter, but later began to experiment with photography and photomontage.

In the 1930s, Yamamoto became interested in the Surrealist movement, which was then gaining popularity in Europe. He began to create photomontages and collages, combining images from different sources to create surreal and dreamlike compositions. He also wrote poetry, often incorporating his visual works into his literary creations.

During World War II, Yamamoto was conscripted into the Japanese military and was stationed in China. After the war, he returned to Japan and resumed his artistic practice. He became involved with the avant-garde movement in Japan, and in 1952 co-founded the avant-garde art collective Jikken Kobo (Experimental Workshop) along with other prominent artists and writers of the time.

Yamamoto's work continued to be influenced by Surrealism and he created many works that combined photography and drawing. He also experimented with different media, including film and sculpture. His work often explored themes such as the human body, sexuality, and identity, and was characterized by a sense of the uncanny and the fantastical.

Later in his life, Yamamoto became more involved in traditional Japanese arts, such as calligraphy and Zen Buddhism, and his work began to reflect these influences. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 72.