Murakami

by Takashi Murakami, Midori Matsui, Dick Hebdige

Takashi Murakami is one of contemporary art’s most innovative and important figures. Drawing from street culture, high art, and traditional Japanese painting, Murakami takes the contemporary art trend of mixing high and low to an unprecedented level (critics call him the new Warhol), producing original paintings and sculptures as well as mass-produced consumer objects such as toys, books, and most famously, a line of handbags for Louis Vuitton. A committed supporter and spokesperson for Japanese artists and a powerful commentator on postwar culture and society, Murakami has organized influential exhibitions of Japanese art as well as a biannual art fair in Tokyo. Murakami has positioned himself as a new type of artist for the twenty-first century: a hybrid of creator, entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador.In conjunction with the first major retrospective of his work, Murakami traces Murakami’s global impact socially, culturally, and art historically. Essays focus on Murakami’s early works, which were based on a social critique of Japan’s rampant consumerism; the development of his characters; his work with anime, fantasy; otaku culture; and his engagement with global pop culture. Representing output from original works of art to mass-produced multiples, the catalogue also considers the implications of Murakami’s working methods within the tradition of the Western avant-garde.

Genres: Art, Art History, Nonfiction, Japan

376 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

See 村上 隆.

Librarian note: This is not the only author by this name in the database. See other authors with similar names.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book doesn't compare to seeing his work in person, but this is a damn good collection (and the most comprehensive to date) of murakami's career. absolutely mind-blowing and the more commercial his work becomes, the more i like it strangely enough. i was fortunate enough to see it in on display at the brooklyn museum of art, and it was the best $10 i've ever spent. i would have paid $100. no joke.

[Chris Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some interesting insights, particularly about the cute aesthetic in japanese pop culture representing a deconstruction of the imperial era's aggressiveness.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Murakami's art. The photos of his works in this book are 5 stars.

Yet the text itself is redundant and pedantic. The chapters are written by a handful of art experts. The editor of the book neglected to successfully edit out redundancies so the book spends a lot of time rehashing the capitalist/materialist/Warhol-esque/ themes prevalent through Murakami's work. Though the book did elucidate an important theme of permanent Japanese childhood/impotence because of the post WWII reliance on the US.

I would have hoped for a book that spoke on Murakami's individual pieces a bit more. And maybe a book a little more accessible to the non-art-school-grad. And what's with all the commas? Stop with the commas! i.e. "Indeed, of all of Murakami's prodigious forays into the world of merchandising, none better exemplifies his Mobius-like marriage of high and low than the aptly named "museum," a kind of boite en valise for the Cracker Jack set.

[Jamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

kanye west knows what time it is.

Tan Tan Bo Puking - a.k.a. Gero Tan (2002) is a painting of that time when Dali & Miyazaki stayed up way too late eating leftover desserts and playing katamari damacy. Super Nova (1999) is when the smurf village (but not the smurfs themselves) tunes in, turns on and drops way out. oh yeah, it's phenomenal stuff.

[brian tanabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There must be other monographs on this artist, but I can't imagine one as comprehensive. Murakami is one of my favorite contemporary artists and must be the most famous contemporary Japanese artist right now. This is an incredible book for Murakami fans.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe not a necessity for all painting students to own, but take a peek. In addition to being full of delightful reproductions, some of the essays preceding the images explore very interesting concepts.

[Karie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love him or hate him, the Warhol of the East is hot, hot, hot. Japanese pop culture+commerce=a marriage made in post-post modern heaven.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's wonderful getting behind the brush of Murakami; my favorite visual artists of all time. His work speaks for itself. I am DOB?

[Jenny Jump · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Murakami and I love this Book! I'm lucky because I've borrowed it from my local library- I've fallen in love with this book. Murakami!!!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite pieces here are Jikkok-kun, Koumok-kun, Zoucho-kun and Tamon-kun. Kawaii!

I also love 727 (which is the cover)