Takashi Murakami – a link between art and commerce

If you want to enrich your Christmas celebration with art in any way, whether through a work of art as a gift or through small, artistically crafted accessories, you will inevitably find yourself at some point during your shopping trip on the borderline between art and commercial kitsch .

Then many people ask themselves:

To buy or not to buy? To welcome as a witty addition to everyday life or to leave as unbearable kitsch on the shelf?

Perhaps the most popular example of the discussion that is regularly held within the framework of this distinction is the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami , for many “the most business-savvy artist since Warhol” .

Brief biography – Education and early years

Murakami was born on February 1, 1962, in Tokyo, a center of old and new Japanese art, where the artist went through his studies traditional Japanese art educationHe studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, the art college of Tokyo founded in 1887, one of the most recognized training institutions for musicians and artists in Japan.

He learned in the Japanese tradition of master students; the content of his training included the study of Nihonga painting , a painting school focused on preserving old Japanese painting art.

The Nihonga school sought to preserve traditional art by continuing to favor depictions of nature using self-mixed, original mineral colors; it rejected the representation of depth through complex perspectives, depictions of shadows, modern oil paints, and modern themes.

Yoga, Otaku, Manga and Anime

However, Murakami found the limitations of this traditional approach unbearable and inappropriate even during his studies. Thus, the topic of his doctoral dissertation, with which he completed his studies in 1993, became the Japanese painting technique “Yōga,” which, with its orientation towards Western models, represented the exact opposite of Nihonga (only today do Japanese artists blend techniques from the two schools).

This choice was not the only lesson Murakami drew from his classification of “Nihonga” as an outdated art form; he went much further: A little later, he drew his inspiration from Otaku culture , the new Japanese (sub)culture with manga and anime as its most popular genres.

These inspirations led Murakami to numerous experiments in which he artistically processed and transformed the colorful products of pop culture in an even more colorful way, ultimately leading him to his own art and the development of his own concept of art.

Superflat

He invented the style of “Superflat” , in which he treats selected pop motifs in a strongly comic-like manner; perhaps a little Nihonga comes through here, as he dispenses with any shading and hatching and structures exclusively with flat, colorful areas of color.

his paintings , objects, sculptures and designs refer to the otaku subculture, those who look closely will recognize that the motifs are meaningfully isolated or ironically placed in new contexts.

Superflat is meant to suggest a lack of perspective and depth, not necessarily in just one dimension; it is no coincidence that his book, in which “Superflat” is formulated as a philosophical theory about Japanese culture, bears the title “The Meaning of the Nonsense of the Meaning” .

Mass-produced goods, merchandise, and hyper-marketing

The Hiropon Factory was founded in 1996 with initial steps towards mass production, and was succeeded in 2001 by the Kaikai Kiki Company . This is a hyper-modern company with well over 100 employees today, where its contemporary Japanese art has been produced and marketed in Tokyo and New York ever since.

Kaikai Kiki, by the way, means “elegant and bizarre” . The mass marketing of his flamboyant pop artworks, usually with a matching merchandise product, is an explicit part of Murakami's artistic concept.

Murakami has consistently developed this economically oriented concept of art further; now he merges pop and culture, art and commerce in such a diverse and imaginative way that Warhol with his Pop Art and Damien Hirst with his diamond-encrusted skull stand next to him like true dilettantes.

Takashi Murakami with a new style: Neo Pop or Pop Surrealism

However, anyone who looks at Murakami's works and dismisses them as kitsch, or no longer considers his mass-produced items, which have sold millions of copies, to be art, is wrong according to art experts – Murakami's art receives international acclaim, his oeuvre is classified as “Neo Pop” or “Pop Surrealism” , and he is compared to art legends such as Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol .

With his works, he has created a unique fusion of elements of pop culture and traditional Japanese art. He draws his inspiration from diverse sources, including Buddhist iconography , 12th-century hanging scrolls, and Zen painting and compositional techniques from the 18th-century Edo period. These varied influences give Murakami's paintings a fascinating fusion of different styles and motifs.

The use of anime and manga elements combined with traditional Japanese art creates a fascinating contrast between modern mass culture and historical aesthetics. It is this blend of seemingly incompatible worlds that makes Murakami's paintings so appealing.

Another characteristic of his work is a touch of Expressionism . Through the skillful use of color and form, he succeeds in conveying emotions on canvas – be it joy or sorrow, hope or melancholy. This expressiveness lends his paintings a depth that transcends mere superficiality. Murakami's artistic output can be seen as a reflection of his own personality.

Murakami has already been able to show his colorful creations at many international exhibitions : in 2001 the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art presented his solo exhibition “Summon Monsters? Open the Door? Heal? Or Die?” on display at the Museum of Fine Arts

Exhibitions followed in France and other locations in the USA, in Germany (2008 Museum of Modern Art, Frankfurt) and Spain (2009 Guggenheim Museum Bilbao).

The mega hype surrounding Takashi Murakami's “Flower”

multicolored floral motif has left its mark on the world of contemporary art, fashion, pop culture, and beyond. Its cheerful character has appeared Pharrell at Art Basel

Since Murakami's first floral artworks were released in 1995, they have increasingly conquered the fashion and design world. Ben Baller's jewelry, Porter bags, and a tourbillon watch all feature the now-iconic smiling flowers, and his collaboration with Louis Vuitton, heavily based on the florals, lasted almost two decades.

While prints of his iconic “Flowers” ​​sold in mass quantities and a painting could fetch millions at auctions, Murakami’s flowers also attracted considerable attention in the streetwear and luxury fashion .

Source of inspiration for the floral motif

Murakami's floral motif was inspired by his studies of traditional Japanese painting, particularly Nihonga. There he discovered the theme "setsugetsuka ," which means "snow, moon, flowers."

Murakami attempted to paint flowers in this tradition, but instead, the motif of the Murakami flowers emerged, featuring 50 flowers on a single stem. Although the flowers appear whimsical and innocent, they carry a darker meaning.

According to Murakami, they symbolize suppressed feelings and collective traumas of the Japanese natives after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

In an animated video for Eilish (see below), this violence is depicted; the decimation of the flowers, in particular, manifests the dark concept.

More iconic designs for pop culture and consumerism

The marketing-savvy artist became known to the general public through completely different actions: He designed album covers for Kanye West , a famous American rapper, designs for the bag manufacturer Louis Vuitton, and sells many small colorful products through several sales channels.

Vuitton designs in particular received media attention, and since then the aforementioned discussion has been raging. The artist is delighted and has already made the museum shop the centerpiece of an exhibition.

The amusing thing is: the more brazenly he claims that merchandising is not a by-product of art, but art itself, the more eagerly quite a few critics follow him and suddenly agree that his mass-produced cheap products (plush flower-shaped cushions, manga figures and colorful buttons) should also be considered art.

In 2015, the artist began a collaboration with Vans , featuring the character on limited-edition graphic T-shirts and skate decks for the brand, as well as on a version of the classic Vans Slip-On. In 2018, Murakami teamed up with Virgil Abloh to host international exhibitions showcasing paintings, sculptures, T-shirts, prints, and a Murakami leather tote bag.

The bag was screen-printed with the flowers and Abloh's signature font. In 2019, the flowers adorned shorts and cushions made of military-grade wool fabric READYMADE MoMA , offering pairs of plush cushions priced at $150.

Murakami's Flowers also received support from renowned musicians. Besides the iconic visuals for Kanye West's 2007 album Graduation and the upcoming animated television show Kids See Ghosts with West and Kid Cudi , Murakami's flowers were also featured in a 2018 project with OVO , where the floral motif was combined with the OVO owl.

Murakami also released a merchandise collaboration with Billie Eilish for Uniqlo , which included the flowers and visuals from the 2019 music video for "You Should See Me in a Crown ," directed by the artist himself.

The blurred boundaries between high art, craft, kitsch and commerce

It is certainly worth considering the underlying Japanese perspective , namely that craftsmanship and high art should not always be as strictly separated as is prescribed or assumed in our culture. It is also certainly gratifying that Murakami wants to make this view known globally.

But one can certainly question whether it is welcome and appropriate for Murakami to extend this "non-separation" to every piece of artistic merchandise. An inappropriate and seemingly dictatorial separation between craft and art, or rather high art, is one thing; to consider every product design originating from an artist's mind, and every cushion and bag that accompanies a work of art as merchandise, as art is quite another.

The conclusion to be drawn from an examination of Murakami's art will likely be that art, craft, and kitsch are not easily distinguishable, which in turn gives you the freedom to simply buy what you like. You are probably also entitled to the freedom not to classify all dolls, cushions, bags, towels, keychains, stickers, and printed soccer balls with Murakami designs as art.

Especially before Christmas, it could be fun and exciting to give a supposedly kitschy object as a gift, which only later turns out to be a controversial work of art, true to the motto: Art is what brings joy!

The first video in a series about this extraordinary Japanese Neo Pop artist is presented in the following short video:

Takashi Murakami is arguably Japan's most successful contemporary artist and also a lucrative investment in the art world. The prices for his works have increased twentyfold in less than ten years.

Takashi Murakami today

Takashi Murakami is not only an outstanding artist, but also a multifaceted personality. In addition to his impressive artistic output, he undertakes numerous other roles and activities that demonstrate his commitment to art in various fields.

As curator, Murakami is committed to promoting other artists and providing them with a platform to make their work accessible to a wider audience. He passionately brings together diverse artworks, creating inspiring exhibition concepts.

In addition, Takashi Murakami appears as a speaker , sharing his thoughts on art with others. His clear words and profound views never fail to amaze and provoke thought in his audiences. The Japanese artist is also active an event coordinator

He organizes art-related events such as exhibition openings and gallery openings, where like-minded people can meet and explore the diversity of the art world together. In addition to these activities, Takashi Murakami even has his own radio show . As host, he offers insights into his creative process and current trends in contemporary art.

He not only provides listeners with information, but also manages to inspire them with his charming manner and enthusiasm for the fascinating world of art. Furthermore, Takashi Murakami is active as a press commentator , offering his perspective on current topics and developments in the art world.

His opinion is valued by many, as he possesses extensive knowledge and always argues well. As a patron of young artists, Murakami supports talented emerging artists in advancing their careers. He gives them tips and advice on how to promote their work and often allows them to participate in his own projects.

Through his commitment, he makes a significant contribution to the further development of the art scene.

In addition to these various roles, Takashi Murakami is also a businessman . His internationally operating company, Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., reflects his ambition to extend the creative influence of art into diverse fields.

This involves not only the production of merchandising products or animated films, but also design for renowned companies such as his famous collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

Despite all his success, Takashi Murakami remains innovative and open to new forms of artistic expression. Most recently, he even ventured into the world of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) , underscoring his continued creativity.

The artist is also very active @takashipom

With this step, he once again demonstrates his courage to change and his pursuit of new forms of artistic creation.

The works of Takashi Murakami have been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo are just a few examples of the international galleries and museums that have presented his artwork. These exhibitions testify to the highest level of recognition for his work. Takashi Murakami is undoubtedly an influential figure in the field of contemporary art.

His versatility and his pursuit of creative development make him an inspiring figure for artists worldwide. With his works, he not only leaves a lasting impression but also contributes to the perception of art as an important part of our society.

Where can one buy artworks by Takashi Murakami?

You can purchase original and unique pieces by the Japanese Neo Pop artist on the following websites, online galleries and shops:

• RISEART
• fineartmultiple
• artnet
• Artsper
• LUMAS