Acrylic on canvas on board
25,5 x 19,7 in (64,7 x 50,2 cm)

Takashi Murakami is one of the most internationally accomplished and most prized contemporary Japanese artists. Born in 1962, Murakami grew up in Tokyo, Japan. From a young age, Murakami had a keen interest in Animation and Manga (Japanese comics). In pursuit of his childhood dream to be an animator, Murakami enrolled in the Tokyo University of Art with the intention to learn about Animation but instead, he ended up with a PHD in Nihonga which is a traditional school of Japanese painting which focus on traditional Japanese artistic conventions, subjects and techniques. In 1994, with a fellowship received from Asian Cultural Council, Murakami moved to New York for a year under the PS1 International Studio program where he became highly inspired by the art of western contemporary artists especially Anselm Kiefer and Jeff Koons. In 1996, Murakami set up Hiropan Factory which subsequently become KaiKai KiKi Co Ltd which Murakami incorporated to represent young artists and organises the biannual art fair Geisei. Murakami’s art is instantly recognisable with its Anime inspired playful characters, bright bold colours presented as flat 2 dimensional imagery that has defined Japanese art from historical times to the contemporary era through manga and anime. Murakami has also a philosophical perceptive for his Superflat art movement from his observation of post war Japan that the distinction between high and low with reference to social class and popular taste have gradually dismissed and become ‘flattened’ over time. Hence based on this perspective, Murakami imbued his art with elements considered as commercial and popular culture into ‘high art’ exhibited in prestigious international museums and then reintroduce these ‘high art’ into pop culture as trendy and much coveted fashion merchandise and novelty items sold in commercial retail spaces. This was most notable with Murakami’s collaboration with French luxury label Louis Vuitton beginning in 2007. Murakami received international attention and recognition after a series of highly successful exhibitions from 2007-2009 which took him from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, to the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, the Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt, and lastly the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain. In 2010, Murakami was given the honour of being the third contemporary artist and the first Japanese artist to exhibit his works at the Palace of Versailles in France.