Carlos Nakatani
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlos Nakatani (Mexico City 1934 – Mexico City February 2, 2004) was a painter, sculptor, cinematographer and writer, the son of a Japanese immigrant to Mexico, noted for his introduction of a snack simply called “Japanese peanuts” in Mexico City, and older brother of singer Yoshio.[1] Nakatani is best known for his painting, which mixes Mexican and Japanese influences, as part of a generation of artists which broke with the Mexican art establishment from the early 20th century. Reclusive, he nonetheless won a number of recognitions for his work and was a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.
Carlos Nakatani was born in the La Merced neighborhood of Mexico City in 1934 to a Mexican mother, Ema Avíla Espinoza and Yoshigei Nakatani Moriguchi, who immigrated from Japan to Mexico.[2][3] His father made his fortune with the creation of a peanut snack called "cacahuates japoneses" (Japanese peanuts), which he originally sold in the La Merced market and later established the Nipon company. These peanuts remain popular in the Mexican capital to this day.[4][5] While valuing his Latin heritage through his life by enjoying the capital’s nightlife from the 1950s to 1970s and reading Latin American authors such as José Lezama Lima throughout his life, but of Carlos’ brothers and sisters, he was the most influenced by his Asian heritage.[6]
Nakatani was called “hermanito” (little brother) by his artistic contemporaries, especially Gilberto Aceves Navarro .[2] He was reclusive and ascetic, eating only what he needed to live and bought very little.[4] He married Mercedes Martínez with whom he had two daughters, Mayra, an art dealer and Carla, an actress.[2][5]
Nakatani died on February 2, 2004, at age 70 after suffering a heart attack in his home.[3][4] Three weeks before this, he predicted his death, telling Navarro.[2][5] Karla dedicated a theatrical performance to him after his death.[5]
