Takashi Murakami

Question 1

Artist Profile:
Takashi Murakami?

Answer 1

Japanese contemporary artist

Works in fine arts (such as painting and sculpture) as well as commercial media (such as fashion, merchandise, and animation) and is known for blurring the line between high and low arts.

Draws from the aesthetic characteristics of Japanese traditional art and post-war Japanese culture.

Compared to Andy Warhol for his art-as-business approach, as well as for his large factories of workers who produce, market, and sell his art. Plays into the art market’s increasing demands for easily consumable and exotic art from Japan.

Draws inspiration from the Japanese subculture of otaku, which is replete with strange perversions of cuteness and innocence, as well as incredible violence. Through this, Murakami crafts a subtle critique of Japan’s contemporary culture as well as the West’s intruding influence upon it.

Question 2

EoA/PoD:
And then, and then, and then… (Original Blue), Edition: 300
by Takashi Murakami

Answer 2

The subject matter is Takashi Murakami’s alter-ego, Mr. DOB. Mr. DOB’s name an the abbreviation of the Japanese word “dobojite” (why) and it was created already in 1993. He became an icon starting from the 1996 work entitled 727.

It is also known as the “Japanese Mickey Mouse”. Its shape and form is similar to the famous American Mickey Mouse, combined with some symbols of Japanese manga and anime culture such as Doraemon and Sonic.

Vibrant colours in this work give contrast to every detail. (colours such as blue, yellow and orange etc.)

Use of negative space in the artwork to emphasise the subject matter.

There are also tints of colour added to each part of the subject matter giving some fade.

The maniacal smile of Mr. DOB can be understood as Murakami’s laughing stance towards the art world, and also towards the West.

Japanese anime is known for cartoon characters with unusually large eyes, which frequently encompass a large portion of their face. Its large eyes show the influence of Japanese culture in the form of anime exaggeration on this work.

Question 3

EoA/PoD:
Kaikai and Kiki
By Takashi Murakami

Answer 3

Kaikai and Kiki have the same name as Takashi Murakami’s company.

They stare out at us, holding white skull-tipped lances and functioning as manic guardians as though sprung into three dimensions, larger than life, direct from a cartoon.

The ears of Murakami’s characters bear Japanese lettering read as kiki kaikai, which translates as **‘bizarre, yet refined,’ **and ‘delicate yet bold’. These figures emanate these complex dichotomies.

Fashioned and dressed to sculptural perfection from a combination of Inox (a form of stainless steel), resin and paint, the attention to detail is extraordinary. There is a use of bright colours making both sculptures to look lively.

Kaikai: white rabbit suit, two eyes with a close-mouthed smile.

Kiki: pink bear suit, three eyes with an open-mouthed, vampire-like laugh (only has 2 teeth).

This distinguishes the two characters from one another.