Yoshitomo Nara,artist poses for a photographer in Yokohama museum,Kanagawa Prefecture,9 July 2012. Satoko Kawasaki photo.
One of the most enduring philosophical conversations is Hobbes’ and Rousseau's debate of whether a man is inherently good or inherently evil. This debate can be found – in its purest form – in children. They can be cute, naïve, and innocent, but often equally destructive and cruel. This duality of both good and bad is what defines most of our childhoods, and that duality can be found in the mischievous, yet cherubic children illustrated by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara.