Posts Tagged ‘Takashi Murakami’
Nov12
Kim Jung Gi collaborates with Kaikai Kiki in new exhibit
2015 at 06:40 pm by admin | Comments Off
Internally renowned brush-and-ink artist Kim Jung Gi has gained worldwide fame over the past few years with his super-detailed illustrations, sketches, and murals, and has been shown at a number of exhibitions across the globe. Now, Kim Jung Gi will be working together with pop art production Kaikai Kiki, created by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami, to create a new pop-up gallery featuring his artwork! This solo exhibition will be set up at the Kyoto Shin-Puh-Kan shopping center in Japan starting on November 16th, and will feature a variety of events on the opening day, including live painting and autographs from Kin Jung Gi himself. The show will remain open until March 2016, giving fans plenty of time to check out the exhibition for themselves when it opens later this month.
Jul20
Murakami’s “Jellyfish Eyes” debuts in the West
2015 at 10:24 am by admin | Comments Off
Originally releasing in Japan on April 26th, 2013, contemporary pop artist Takashi Murakami’s first film, “Jellyfish Eyes”, has made its debut in the United States! The film started airing at the IFC Center theater in New York City last week, and will be shown until July 23rd, thanks to the efforts of Janus Films and Criterion Collection. A film 12 years in the making, “Jellyfish Eyes” is a story Murakami created for children, and deals with issues like coming to terms with grief, putting aside differences to work together, and how companionship emerges from times of disaster. Working on the film both as a director and as a designer, Murakami’s hand can be seen in both the storytelling and the character designs of the whimsical species whom befriend the children in the movie, called F.R.I.E.N.D.S. From big-eyed marshmallow jellyfish to hulking hairy beasts, Murakami has cited a variety of influences in the designs of “Jellyfish Eyes”, from Power Rangers to Spielberg movies.Upon the completion of the initial screening, it was also announced that a sequel to “Jellyfish Eyes” is already in the works, though little else was announced about the sequel’s plot or release date. Check out the trailer for “Jellyfish Eyes” below, and stay tuned for more information about future theatrical releases across the United States!
Jun22
Vans X Murakami apparel this June
2015 at 01:32 pm by admin | Comments Off
Popular Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami will be bringing his art to footwear this summer with his newest collaboration with shoe company Vans! The new collection of Murakami-themed shoes will be a part of the Vault by Vans fall 2015 collection, and will feature unique Murakami’s signature flowers and skulls design motifs on the Vans’ Classic Slip-On shoes.
Toddler-sized Slip-Ons will also be available as part of the collection, as well as t-shirts and even skateboards featuring Murakami’s artwork! This limited-edition selection of apparel and streetwear will only be available from select retailers in limited supply, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled! The collection will officially launch in these stores on June 27th.
May06
Chiho Aoshima debuts solo exhibit at Seattle
2015 at 11:38 am by admin | Comments Off
Chiho Aoshima, originally working as an artist under Takashi Murakami’s design team Kaikai Kiki, has pursued her own solo art career since 2005, using her iconic design style and themes to create a wide variety of pieces and installations. All of her work over the past decade has now come together under one roof with her newest solo exhibit, titled “Chiho Aoshima: Rebirth of the World”! This exhibit is currently on display at the Tateuchi Galleries of the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Washington, and opened its doors to visitors on May 2nd.
The collection featues a selection of Aoshima’s work from the past 10 years, including her “City Glow” installation piece which wowed audiences worldwide when it debuted in New York City’s Union Square in 2005. The collection also features new pieces from Aoshima alongside beloved classics, including 35 brand-new drawings, as well as plexiglass prints. Aoshima will even debut a never-before-seen animation piece serving as a follow-up to “City Glow”, titled “Takaamanohara”. On top of the exhibit itself, the museum will be hosting a family event, where visitors can join Aoshima in creating a unique collage piece! “Rebirth of the World” will remain open until October 4th, 2015, making it a perfect exhibit to check out over the summertime.
Feb26
Mr.’s art exhibit in Seattle
2015 at 04:49 pm by admin | Comments Off
Superflat Japanese pop artist Mr. has worked with big named from around the world in the creation of his otaku-themed artwork, including his mentor Takashi Murakami as well as musician Pharrell Williams. In a large step for the artist, Mr. has debuted his first solo exhibition in the United States with “Live On: Mr.’s Japanese Neo-Pop” at the Seattle Asian Art Museum! The exhibit is a collection of a variety of Mr’s artwork from the past 15 years, including large-scale paintings, clothing design, installations, and more.
One of the center pieces to the exhibit are Mr.’s found object dioramas, created from trash and everyday objects in the wake of 2011’s devastating tsunami disaster in Japan. Mr. identifies himself as an otaku, passionate about anime and videogames, as well as the works he creates. Using those works to provide a deep insight into the otaku subculture as well as addresses a variety of social issues and anxieties.
The show, which has been open to the public in Seattle since its opening on November 22, 2014, has drawn numerous favorable reviews, and astounded visitors for the past few months. Mr.’s exhibit will remain open until April 5th, and is a must-see for pop art fans and everyday visitors alike!
Oct03
Pharrell Williams collabs with Murakami in new video
2014 at 04:22 pm by admin | Comments Off
Musician and pop art enthusiast Pharrel Williams has been known to collaborate with internationally renowned artist Takashi Murakami in a number of mediums, from museum exhibits to starring together in a recent Hatsune Miku music video. Now, Pharrell Williams has released the latest music video for his recently released song, “It Girl”, and has produced it alongside Murakami to create an entirely animated piece! Designed around Murakami’s iconic graphic style and motifs, the video features a variety of retro references, including subtle nods to classic 90s computer gaming, anime, and other forms of media. “It Girl”, which comes from Pharrell William’s March 2014 album, titled “Girl”, is one of Pharrell Williams’ first studio album songs since his 2006 debut, and shows off his adoration for pop art and classic entertainment in this newest video. Take a look below to check out the new video!
May15
Murakami & Pharrell Williams’ Jellyfish Eyes video
2014 at 12:36 pm by admin | Comments Off
Takashi Murakami’s “Jellyfish Eyes” movie, which recently premiered in the United States at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in April, featured the popular character Hatsune Miku in its opening song, titled “Last Night, Good Night (Re:Dialed)”. With the film hitting American shores, music composer and singer-songwriter Pharrel Williams has remixed the song, and has worked together with Murakami to release a brand-new music video of the song! The song features Williams’ remixed version of the song alongside a variety of characters and creatures from the movie, titled F.R.I.E.N.D.s, alongside Hatsune Miku and even cartoon versions of Murakami and Williams themselves! “Jellyfish Eyes” will continue to tour the county through June, arriving at Dallas, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, giving people across the nation a chance to watch Murakami’s debut film on the big screen.
“Jellyfish Eyes” is a film created, designed, and directed by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. The film follows the story of the young boy, Masashi, as he moves to a new town and discovers the strange creatures known as F.R.I.E.N.D.s. Through his adventures with other children in the town and their respective F.R.I.E.N.D.s, the film follows Masashi’s exploits as he learns about bonds and friendship. The film, which debuted in theaters on April 26th, has since begun a world tour, airing at different cities across Japan and the United States.