Takashi Murakami (Installation View), via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
After 20 years of collaboration, Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong and Takashi Murakami present what will be the artist’s 9th solo show at the gallery, featuring new paintings he created under his alter-ego Mr. Dob, as well as self-portraits of Murakami surrounded by his own characters.
Takashi Murakami (Installation View), via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
Murakami introduced his theory of the Superflat aesthetic in 2000, a look which has gone on to inform the majority of his work, and which has become an iconic symbol of his artistic personality. In this visual language, Murakami blurs the boundaries between pop art and grand art, purposefully leaving out the aspects of perspective, constraining himself within two dimensions while still managing to capture a surprising degree of depth. With techniques reminiscent of ancient Japanese art, inlcuding the Ukiyo-e engraving style, Murakami paints cartoonish pop art objects with repeated images, reminiscent of wallpaper or texturing. A pioneer of the broader commercial pop art aesthetic, Murakami has since expanded into many mediums beyond just painting, including sculpture and prints, silk-screens and animated films.
Takashi Murakami (Installation View), via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
Combining aesthetics, Murakami’s show of recent work sees him revisiting a number of his more familiar characters and tropes, while inserting his own cartoonish visage into the works. Â The result is a series of works that seem to bring the artist much more actively into the scope of his own work. Â Murakami, in a recent interview, stated that he was no longer interested in the financial ends of his creative capacity, so much as he was in his own capacity as an artist to effect change in the world. Â Given that context, the works can almost be read as an open willingness by the artist to step more fully into his own universe, to introduce himself as the creator, and to take responsibility for their depiction.
Takashi Murakami (Installation View), via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
Along a similar vein, the exhibition also features one of Murakami’s recent sculptural works, depicting him lying side by side with his dog, and gazing up at the sky. Â Holding somewhat morbid, deathly undertones, Murakami blends his figures’ ominous poses with a hopeful look, balancing the two states with striking power.
TAKASHI MURAKAMI, installation view via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
Galerie Perrotin was one of the first institutions to display Murakami’s work outside Japan in 1995, and since then Murakami has become widely known on an international level. He has exhibited work at France’s Château de Versailles, at QMA in Doha, Qatar, and he will be further exhibited this year at the Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul in an exhibition entitled “Takashi in Superflat Wonderland.”
TAKASHI MURAKAMIÂ opened on May 21st at Galerie Perrotin and will continue through July 6th, 2013.
TAKASHI MURAKAMI, installation view via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
Takashi Murakami (Installation View), via Galerie Perrotin Hong Kong
—E. Baker
Related Links:
Exhibition Page [Galerie Perrotin]
Murakami Interviewed on New Work [Nowness]
