Often referred to as "Japan's Warhol," Takashi Murakami is known for blurring the line between art and consumerism. His brightly colored, cheerful work is inspired by the Japanese subculture of otaku, a term used to describe people dedicated to all things pop culture. Through his art, Murakami explores the contemporary culture of Japan, as well as the growing influence of the West on it.
"We want to see the newest things," Murakami says of his artistic philosophy. That's because we want to see the future, even if only momentarily. It is the moment in which, although we do not fully understand what we glimpse, it moves us. This is what we have come to call art ”.
Here are the fascinating facts about Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
Superflat art is characterized by bold contours, flat colors, and a lack of perspective and three-dimensional depth. In Japanese art, flat compositions are found throughout history, from ukiyo-e woodcuts of the Edo period to contemporary manga and anime. Murakami coined the term "Superflat" in 2001 when he was the curator of a traveling exhibition of the same name. It featured the work of 19 contemporary artists (including Murakami) who create with the "flat" aesthetic of traditional Japanese art while referencing the superficiality of Western consumer culture.
According to Murakami, "flattening" refers not only to the flatness of the image or art prints, but also to the flattening of the divisions between high and low art, as well as between art and consumer culture. Indeed, many of Murakami's Superflat works explore the consumer culture of postwar Japan. The artist explains: "World War II was always my subject; I was always thinking about how culture reinvented itself after the war."
Murakami's first and most famous character, Mr. DOB, was revealed in 1992. The mouse-shaped mascot appears throughout his work in many different styles and colors, but is always recognizable by his giant eyes, smiling face and his two ears. The left ear is inscribed with the letter "D" and the right ear is inscribed with the letter "B".
Mr. DOB's name is derived from the Japanese phrase "dobojite" or "why?" This question reflects Murakami's perplexed view of the consumer society. The artist revealed that he came up with the Mr. DOB design after researching the worldwide appeal of famous people like Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. "I set out to investigate the secret of the survival of the market," he explains, "the universality of characters like Mickey Mouse, Sonic the Hedgehog, Doraemon, Miffy, Hello Kitty and their imitations, produced in Hong Kong."
Apart from Mr. DOB, you can buy Takashi Murakami another iconic character: the smiling flower. With 12 rounded petals and a happy face, the artist's colorful flora is celebrated for its display of joy and innocence. Murakami's fascination with flowers began during the 1980s when he was working as a school teacher. As an artistic exercise, he bought fresh flowers for his students to draw. He repeated this lesson almost daily for nine years and, over time, became fascinated by the many types of flowers and the "personalities" they have. Murakami flowers are now his most recognizable motif and have been featured in countless works of art and products.
In 2002, Marc Jacobs, who at the time was Louis Vuitton's chief designer, invited Murakami to redesign the brand's spring / summer 2003 accessories collection. Murakami broke down the trademark LV logo or Takashi Murakami prints and recreated it with a colorful kawaii twist.
Murakami's Louis Vuitton designs laid the foundation for what resulted in a 13-year partnership, and his handbags became a global sensation. The radical artist then began to directly incorporate Louis Vuitton motifs and patterns into his own paintings and sculptures. “The Japanese accept that art and commerce will merge; best site and in fact, they are surprised by the rigid and pretentious Western hierarchy of 'high art', ”says Murakami. “In the West, it is certainly dangerous to mix the two because people will throw all kinds of stones. But okay, I'm ready with my helmet. "
This isn't Murakami's only brush with the fashion industry. He has also collaborated with other well-known brands, including UNIQLO, Supreme, and Vans, to create colorful collections featuring his iconic art.
In 2007, Murakami provided the cover for rapper Kanye West's album Graduation. Then in 2018, the couple got back together again when Murakami designed a new album cover for Kids See Ghosts.
Murakami also worked with Pharrell Williams when he created an animated character of the American singer for his official remix of the theme song Jellyfish Eyes. Williams and Murakami also collaborated on a sculpture, titled The Simple Things (2008-2009).
Murakami also worked with American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish to create the music video for her theme, You Should See Me In A Crown. The animated video features an anime version of Eilish, as well as Murakami's trademark smiling flowers.
In 1996, Murakami established the Hiropon Factory, a studio space that grew into an art production, gallery, and artist management company now known as Kaikai Kiki Co. The company aims to help young artists gain exposure. international by curating exhibitions, helping produce and sell merchandise, and organizing a biannual art festival and convention in Tokyo. Kaikai Kiki started in Saitama, Japan, in the city of Asaka, but now has offices in Tokyo and New York, as well as subsidiaries in Berlin and Taiwan.