APW - Takashi Murakami (764 hits)
Category: GraphicsLabels: APW
Rating: 1.84 on 27 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-10-04 05:15:02 EDT
Takashi Murakami, the contemporary Japanese artist, was born in 1963. He studied at the Tokyo National University Of Fine Arts and Music, pursuing a doctorates degree in "Nihonga." Nihonga (a mixture of Eastern and Western styles dating back to the 19th century) was starting to fall by the way side with the grow of "Otaku" culture. Otaku is a term used to refer to manga and anime, and Murakami became interested in it.
He created a "Supeflat" style, based upon "Poku" which is a combination of pop art and Otaku culture. Murakami sought to redefine what japanese art was in post W.W.II, as he believed all the trends since then were just pale reflections of the West. In 1996, he founded the Hiropon Factory to help in the creation of his paintings and sculptures. Shortly thereafter he renamed it the KaiKai Kiki Co. LTD. KaiKai Kiki has two major purposes - One to mass produce and market Murakami's creations and two, to find and nurture young upcoming Japanese artists. KaiKai Kiki now hosts GEISAI, and open art festival that allows artists to purchase booths to display their art. This attracts thousands of young artists every years and in a major event in modern Japanese culture.
One of the greatest differences between Murakami and other pop artists is in the way he has marketed his work. While individuals like Warhol reproduced images and claimed it was "High-Art," Murakami believes in no such thing. His designs can be found on everything from T-shirts, key chains, mouse pads, plush dolls, stickers, toys, candy and cell phone caddies to $5,000 limited-edition Louis Vuitton handbags.
User Reviews
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-10-04 20:53:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
mostly what FG said.
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2006-10-04 17:27:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jebus, the Japanese are odd.
In the 70's there was this cartoon called G-Force that was in anime/magna style. I thought it was cool as shit.
I don't know if I'm just uptight nowadays, but anime disturbs me if for nothing else because pedophiles like it for obvious reasons. It's disturbing to think that a pedo is whacking off to Sailor Moon cartoons.
That and I don't understand sick tentacle porn.
Meh, I just flat out don't understand/appreciate anything about the Japanese culture.
But +2 because I like the panda creature in the topmost upper left.
Submitted by livEvil (user info) at 2006-10-04 15:45:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-10-04 15:08:47 (#)
Ranking: 1
cool I suppose. can't really call it beautiful though.
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I like all the info you added, though.
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-10-04 15:08:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
cool I suppose. can't really call it beautiful though.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-10-04 14:56:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2006-10-04 11:33:23 (#)
Ranking: 0
have to love the japs
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2006-10-04 14:51:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I went to his exhibition in the serpentine a few years ago....it rocked.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2006-10-04 13:24:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
When I was a kid, I loved anime. Then I grew up and realized that I was being a pretentious asshole.
The art is still amazing though, and I still appreciate it, even if I can't appreciate some of the ridiculous stories and nonsensical characters.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-10-04 13:13:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Makes me wish we had a panty vending machine here.
And some packages of Homo Sausage.
Hopefully this post will bring more asians to Uber. I fear my efforts have been forgotten.
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2006-10-04 11:33:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
have to love the japs
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-10-04 11:24:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not a huge fan of the whole anime influenced Japanese movement, but I have to respect the virtuosity of skill. I can certainly appreciate it for that.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-10-04 11:18:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Weet.
I want to post an APW, but I don't want to knock last night's grueberfest post off the front page. *Weeps
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-10-04 10:46:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-10-04 10:37:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
the japanese are freaks!!! i can't wait to go to japan.
+2!!! ^_^
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-10-04 10:01:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't know what it is about Japanimation that bothers me, but it does. However, it is an art form. APW +2
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-10-04 09:42:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Although this is not a style that I enjoy, I have to commend the guy for having his hands dipped in so many different mediums.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-10-04 09:37:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2's all around, it's Electros birthday
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-10-04 09:27:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I WANT that soccer ball.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-10-04 09:22:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Trippy.
Now it makes sense- I have some knockoff purse given to me as a gift, and someone approached me excitedly once, thinking it was this guy's bag.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-10-04 09:10:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I look at this and think "Pokemon on LSD"...
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-10-04 07:54:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
awesomeness
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-10-04 07:52:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
finally, someone i actually like
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2006-10-04 07:06:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
this is your brain on drugs kids!
APW is my favourite uber day
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2006-10-04 06:19:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That dude has issues with eyes.
Submitted by Foolproof (user info) at 2006-10-04 05:51:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
My problem with anime is that a bastardized version is now seen everywhere. Commercials, comics, Saturday morning cartoons - bastardized versions of anime.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-10-04 05:48:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Foolproof (user info) at 2006-10-04 05:39:52 (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't consider anime art.
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Spoken like someone who watches the fantastic four.
Submitted by Foolproof (user info) at 2006-10-04 05:39:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't consider anime art.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2006-10-04 05:30:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'll have to start looking at all these APW things.