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Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s latest work—which focuses on facial expressions– is currently being exhibited in Taiwan for the first time, encouraging improved relations between both countries.

The exhibition titled,”Mind-Eyes of Nara: The Gaze in Facial-Expressionism” will be open to the public  until June 20 and features work that hone in on the eyes of the subject—conveying depth of emotion.

“The instinctual gaze is found in the innocence of a child, the keen senses of an animal, and the spiritual consciousness of an adult. Nara’s detailed yet differential depictions of the irises (for the left and right eye) intensify the role it plays within the eye,” Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts’ website states.

“I think Nara’s paintings are often driven by the “expressions”, to the extent that his work can be characterized as “facial expressionism”. Subjects are the fragments or parts of himself from past memories,” writes Huang Chien-Hung, curator at the museum.

Nara’s artistic efforts are also being recognized by Dallas Contemporary’s career survey taking place between March 20 and August 22.

The survey has brought together archived work from 2006, all the way up to the present day, curated by Pedro Alonzo.

“The survey explores how Nara’s art conjures a realm rich in feeling while referencing the artist’s autobiography as well as broader cultural issues. In his newest works exhibited at Dallas Contemporary, Nara adopts a markedly introspective attitude,” the website states.

Throughout Nara’s career he has explored many themes including rebellion, loneliness and introspection.