Takashi Murakami, “Black Tortoise and Arhats,” 2024. Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. 70 7/8 x 84 5/16 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
If you see a bright explosion of flowers and bizarre yet kawaii characters, chances are it’s a Takashi Murakami piece. Throughout his career, the Japanese artist has created artwork that brilliantly merges pop culture, high art, and consumerism; solidifying himself as one of the world’s most renowned contemporary artists. This December, an exhibition at Gagosian’s London gallery will explore Murakami’s layered relationship to art history.
Japanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami spans new paintings in which Murakami reimagines ancient Japanese art. These works challenge the sanctity of national art by infusing them with pop cultural references, ranging from Murakami’s Mr. DOB mascot to his graphic, anime-inspired color palettes. As with other Murakami projects, this exhibition also considers how Western aesthetics have impacted Japanese art production, especially following the Edo Period (1603-1868) when the country opened its doors to the West.
Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP (2023-24), for example, reworks Iwasa Matabei’s Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu (Scenes in and around Kyoto) from the 17th century. The original artwork captures the city in granular detail across two six-panel folding screens, while Murakami’s version incorporates contemporary iconography within the scene, including Mr. DOB and other flower-faced figures. These additions bring Murakami’s presence to the forefront, questioning the delicate balance between ancient and modern art.
Maiko in Springtime Kyoto (2024) is a similar reinterpretation of 17th- and 18th-century art. The work depicts a smiling woman donning traditional Japanese makeup, jewelry, and a kimono. Recalling ukiyo-e woodcuts of geishas, Maiko in Springtime Kyoto transforms a classic motif into an over-saturated, two-dimensional anime girl. The composition also incorporates other national symbols such as cherry blossoms, a torii gate, and a pagoda, all rendered in Murakami’s signature flat lines.
Other paintings play on themes like Japanese mythology, traditional textile patterns, and modern technology. The exhibition will be an exciting tour through Murakami’s own understanding of art history. The artist will also take over Gagosian Burlington Arcade with six new paintings, which will be on view concurrently with the exhibition.
Japanese History à la Takashi Murakami is set to open on December 10, 2024, and run through March 8, 2025. To learn more, visit the Gagosian website.
An upcoming Takashi Murakami exhibition at Gagosian reinterprets Japanese art history through the artist’s signature lens.
Takashi Murakami, “Maiko in Springtime Kyoto,” 2024 (rendering). Acrylic, gold leaf, and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel. 43 3/8 x 43 3/8 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
Takashi Murakami, “Golden Pavilion,” 2024. Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood panel. 32 3/8 x 26 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian (Photo: Kei Okano).
Titled Japanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami, the exhibition will open on December 10, 2024, at Gagosian’s London gallery.
Takashi Murakami, “White Tiger and Family,” 2024. Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. 70 7/8 x 84 5/16 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
Takashi Murakami, “Re: ‘Daigo-Hanami-zu-Byōbu',” 2024 (rendering). Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel. 59 1/8 x 142 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
The exhibition will feature new paintings in which Murakami plays with motifs from ancient Japanese art, incorporating his own contemporary characters, colors, and style.
Takashi Murakami, “Flaming Vermillion Bird,” 2024. Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. 70 7/8 x 84 5/16 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
Takashi Murakami, “Blue Dragon Soars Through the Universe,” 2024. Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. 70 7/8 x 84 5/16 inches. © 2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian.
One painting reworks an iconic 17th-century artwork in astounding detail, in which Murakami inserts his renowned flower-faced characters and Mr. DOB mascot.
Takashi Murakami, “Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP,” 2023–24. Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel, in 2 parts. Overall: 9 feet 10 1/8 inches x 42 feet 10 7/8 inches. © 2023-24 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian (Photo: Kei Okano).
Takashi Murakami, “Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP,” 2023–24 (detail). Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel, in 2 parts. Overall: 9 feet 10 1/8 inches x 42 feet 10 7/8 inches. © 2023-24 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian (Photo: Kei Okano).
Takashi Murakami, “Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP,” 2023–24 (detail). Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel, in 2 parts. Overall: 9 feet 10 1/8 inches x 42 feet 10 7/8 inches. © 2023-24 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian (Photo: Kei Okano).
Takashi Murakami, “Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP,” 2023–24 (detail). Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on wood panel, in 2 parts. Overall: 9 feet 10 1/8 inches x 42 feet 10 7/8 inches. © 2023-24 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Courtesy Gagosian (Photo: Joshua White).
