Takashi Murakami holds first solo ‘monster’ exhibition at Asian Art Museum in SF
By Ryan General
Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, renowned for his anime-inspired art, is holding his first-ever solo exhibition in San Francisco, titled “Takashi Murakami: Unfamiliar People—Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego.”
Unleashing the monsters: The highly anticipated exhibition, which reportedly took five years to complete, will open on Sept. 15 at the Asian Art Museum and will run until Feb. 12, 2024. It features over 75 of Murakami‘s iconic monster artworks, including a dozen never-before-seen pieces.
Murakami’s artistic journey: The 61-year-old artist shared at a recent press conference how his art is heavily influenced by his early fascination with externalized monsters, like Godzilla and comic book villains, adding that his work is an exploration of the “monsterization” of humanity in the digital age and the pandemic era. His childhood experiences during times of global conflict, such as the Vietnam and Cold Wars, and his parents’ experiences in World War II, inspired his curiosity about humanity’s self-destructive tendencies.
“Chaos is the norm,” he was quoted saying. “I am most scared of the ego, the inner struggles that can’t be suppressed.”
Ode to Asian Art Museum: Murakami’s exhibition will also serve as a tribute to the Asian Art Museum itself. Several pieces were tailored to the museum’s unique dimensions, and some, like “Lidded Jar with Design of a Lotus Pond,” drew inspiration from the museum’s own collection.
The centerpiece of the show, a colossal 83-foot-long painting titled “Judgement Day,” represents a departure from Murakami’s earlier work, blending Japanese woodblock print influences with intricate, tangled figures and historical symbolism.
Of flowers and fishes: The exhibition also includes a room adorned with Murakami’s trademark smiling flowers, creating a vibrant and immersive experience.
Visitors will also have the chance to admire a set of blue-and-white fish paintings inspired by Ming dynasty porcelain, a project that Murakami embarked on over three decades ago.
Mixing the traditional and contemporary: Murakami’s unique blend of traditional and contemporary influences promises an unforgettable journey through the artist’s multifaceted career. In a recent YouTube video, Murakami reflected on the ever-changing digital landscape and its effect on art.
“Now, in 2023, is a big breakthrough here because [of] AI, if I am not touching for the AI, so in the near future… I have to quit this world because this is a new theory, new language, new grammar…I want to follow. You are young, you know, movement. I want to survive.”
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