Supernova “Takashi Murakami” in Cape Town!
Cape Townians, you have been blessed! One of the hottest contemporary Japanese artists, Takashi Murakami will be bringing his phenomenal work to Cape Town. Curators, seen as he’s coming so far, how about a gig in Jozi?????
In 2003, Time Magazine named Takashi Murakami Japan’s hottest contemporary artist, an international phenomenon, …
the art-world’s favourite son and fashion’s IT boy. His work had gone supernova, a result of his commissioned designs for Louis Vuitton handbags.
Now he will be exhibiting in South Africa, at 34 LONG in Cape Town from 14 November to 9 December 2006.
In Japan, there is virtually no distinction between high art and commercial production, and no censure for blending the two. But in the so-called West, some negative notions about commercialism in the art market remains, despite Warhol and Koons. Takashi has been quoted that he finds this funny; a market is commercial, isn’t it? Oppositions between East and West amuse Takashi and present him with rich material to explore and exploit in his work.
He has set up factory-like studios in Tokyo and New York, where he happily mass-produces soft toys, giant inflatable balloons, t-shirts, comics, sculptures, art prints, watches and other products bearing his superflat images of childlike smiles, winking eyes, cute cartoon characters and adorable flowers. His business is called KaiKai KiKi, after his popular pair of wickedly cute soft toys; his signature character Mr DOB has big-ears and a wide smile. He employs young designers in his factories, claiming that he is not a solitary person, that he likes to draw inspiration from a collaborative environment and that he gains from their ideas as much as they gain from his.
Takashi’s fame continues to grow as he makes people smile when they look at his work, wondering whether there is ironic sensibility or philosophical commentary, or nothing but sheer business savvy in his beautifully coloured images. Perhaps his works may be understood as commentaries on western modernism, contemporary consumerism, cartoon animation and Japanese history, combined.
Joining an impressive list of galleries – Marianne Boesky, New York (2003); Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris (2002); Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2001); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2001); Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris (2001) – where Takashi has recently had solo shows, 34 LONG is the first gallery in Africa to dedicate a show to this seminal artist-entrepreneur of our time. The show, selected and curated by 34LONG in consultation with Takashi will consist of a selection of editioned prints and a selection of mass-produced merchandise: fun, beautiful objects from Kaikai Kiki.
PICTURE borrowed from SA’s best art website: Artthrob. Visit Artthrob for all your arts news.
