Takashi Murakami Biography and Photos

Takashi Murakami (born 1 February 1962 in Tokyo) is a prolific contemporary Japanese artist who works in both fine arts media, such as painting, as well as digital and commercial media. He attempts to blur the boundaries between high and low art. He appropriates popular themes from mass media and pop culture, then turns them into thirty-foot sculptures, “Superflat” paintings, or marketable commercial goods such as figurines or phone caddies.

Murakami attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, initially studying more traditionalist Japanese art. He pursued a doctorate in Nihonga, a mixture of Western and Eastern styles dating back to the late 19th century. However, due to the mass popularity of anime and manga, Japanese styles of animation and comic graphic stories, Murakami became disillusioned with Nihonga, and became fixated on otaku culture, which he felt was more representative of modern day Japanese life.

This resulted in Superflat, the style that Murakami is credited with starting. It developed from Poku, (Pop + otaku). Murakami has written that he aims to represent Poku culture because he expects that animation and otaku might create a new culture. This new culture being a rejuvenation of the contemporary Japanese art scene. This is what it is all about to Murakami; he has expressed in several interviews in the last five or six years the frustration that his art has risen from. It is a frustration rooted in the lack of a reliable and sustainable art market in post-war Japan, and the general view of Japanese art in and outside the country as having a low art status. He is quoted as saying that the market is nothing but “a shallow appropriation of Western trends”. His first reaction was to make art in non-fine arts media, but decided instead to focus on the market sustainability of art and promote himself first overseas. This marks the birth of KaiKai Kiki, LLC.

Takashi Murakami Timeline

1996 - The Hiropon Factory is founded in the Marunuma Art Residence at 493 Kamiuchimagi, Asaka-shi, Saitama.

1998 - The Hiropon Factory New York Studio is founded in Brooklyn, New York.

1999 - (April) Takashi Murakami’s solo exhibition “DOB in the Strange Forest” is held at the Parco Department Store Gallery in Shibuya.

2000 - (February) Takashi Murakami exhibits together with Miltos Manetas at the Italian Gallery Pinksummer [1]. The exhibition is called “Murakami-Manetas” and it that occasion the two artists hold a conference at the Brera ArtSchool in Milan where Murakami introduces his ideas for the SuperFlat and Manetas his ideas for what became the Neen art movement.
2000 - (March) The Hiropon Factory website is launched.
2000 - (April) Takashi Murakami curates the “Superflat” exhibition at the Parco Department Store Gallery in Shibuya.

2001 - (January) Takashi Murakami curates the “Superflat” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; draws audience of 95,000.
2001 - (April) Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. is founded and capitalized at 3,000,000 yen; takes over operation of the Hiropon Factory.]
2001 - (May) Studio #4, specializing in the production of sculpture and other three dimensional artworks, is established in Shiki-shi, Saitama.
2001 - (June) Studio #3 is established in the Marunuma Art Residence premises.
2001 - (July) An i-mode website “Geijutsu Dojo GP” is launched.
2001 - (August) Takashi Murakami solo exhibition “Summon Monsters? Open the Door? Heal? Or Die?” is unveiled at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo.
2001 - (September) “Geijutsu Dojo Grand Prix,” a Takashi Murakami solo exhibition related special event is held.

2002 - (March) “GEISAI #1” is held at the Tokyo Tower Amusement Hall; attracts 3,006 people.
2002 - (June) Takashi Murakami curates “Coloriage” exhibition at the Cartier Foundation in Paris; Takashi Murakami’s solo exhibition “Kawaii Summer Vacation” is held at the Cartier Foundation in Paris.
2002 - (August) “GEISAI #2” is held at the Tokyo Big Sight West 4 Hall; attracts 5,332 people.

2003 - (March) “GEISAI #3” is held at the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall A; attracts 6,981 people.
2003 - (September) “GEISAI #4” is held at the Tokyo Big Sight West 4 Hall; attracts 5,332 people.
2003 - (December) “GEISAI Museum” is held at the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower on the 24th Floor; attracts 4,824 people.

2004 - (March) “Kaikai Kiki Animation Studio” is established at 4-1, Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. “GEISAI #5” is held at the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall A; attracts 7,798 people.
2004 - (September) “GEISAI #6” is held at the Tokyo Big Sight East 4 Hall; attracts 7,244 people.
2004 - (December) “Kaikai Kiki Animation Studio Homepage” is launched.

2005 - (March) “GEISAI #7” is held at the Tokyo Big Sight East 4 Hall; attracts 7,591 people.
2005 - (June) Takashi Murakami curates “Little Boy” exhibition at the Japan Society in New York.

2007 - (June) Takashi Murakami designs covers for Kanye West’s singles, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Stronger” and directs the artwork for the whole of his Graduation album.