E'wao Kagoshima Reflects on Career and Inclusion in MoMA PS1's Greater New York Survey

E'wao Kagoshima, a 76-year-old Japanese-born artist living in New York since the mid-1970s, is currently featured in MoMA PS1's Greater New York exhibition. Known as 'Rocky', Kagoshima exhibited frequently during the 1980s at venues including London's ICA and New York's New Museum, then largely withdrew from the art world for two decades while continuing to paint. His work spans surrealism, abstraction, and postmodern playfulness, with influences like Paul Klee. Kagoshima has never achieved financial stability through art, a situation persisting today. The Greater New York show, curated by Ruba Katrib, represents a significant career moment for him, featuring 47 artists and running for six months. In a rare interview conducted via Zoom with Katrib moderating, Kagoshima discussed his lifelong artistic ambition despite age and economic challenges. He mentioned selling work on the street, having few loyal collectors, and the importance of connections in the art world. Kagoshima referenced the Japanese story of the 47 samurai as a metaphor for the exhibition, expressing hope it might bring recognition. He emphasized constant stylistic evolution, citing Picasso, and described his art as exploring existential questions of identity. The interview, facilitated by ArtReview writer Ross Simonini, marked one of Kagoshima's first video conversations and few interviews ever.