About the artwork
This rounded work by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami features recognisable imagery in his oeuvre, such as razor sharp teeth and hooded eyes. It draws inspiration from the Japanese subculture of otaku, which is replete with cuteness and innocence and simultaneously darker undertones. The dynamic piece is a characteristic example of Murakami’s unique style, Superflat, which depicts a mix of anime content within a flattened representational picture plane. Featuring a vibrant colour palette and bold lines, it exemplifies Murakami’s bold and lively individualism that has cemented him as a key figure in the contemporary art world.
About the artist
Takashi Murakami was born in 1962 in Tokyo and is a prolific contemporary Japanese artist of international renown. Working with fine art mediums (painting and sculpture) as well as conventional commercial mediums (fashion,
merchandise, and animation), the artist is known for blurring the line between high
and low art. He coined his style 'superflat', which describes the aesthetic
characteristics of the Japanese artistic tradition and the nature of post-war Japanese culture and society. Murakami’s works have been exhibited all
over the world, including prestigious institutions such as the Guggenheim
Museum in Bilbao, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Fondation Cartier pour
l'art Contemporain, Paris, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.