Takashi Murakami

I think one of the most influential contemporary artist now is Japan’s Takashi Murakami. I was watching the ovation channel when I saw a show called "art safari" which featured his work. Though superficially Murakami's work is cartoon-like but implicitly it empresses Japan's childish social atmosphere which is full of toys and color. The critics of his art are asking the question whether his work is only for commercial gains or is it really passionate art. In the video Murikami talks about the blur between commercial brand and art. His idea is that in the future art and commercialism will be the same thing. The design of his art is very similar to the Japanese cartoons called anime. His artwork consists of all mediums from sculpture to animation. What are consistent throughout his work are the same big eyed smiling characters similar to Japans pop culture. Similar to Andy Warhol, he references characters from what’s popular which is anime and manga (comics) in Japan. His creations are consisting of many colors and smiling faces which can look scary sometimes. Murikami is trying to display Japan’s infatuation with its cartoons and their innocent culture. With the floral patterns he uses a lot, he shows the obedient Japanese abiding with other cultures.
The commercialism that blurs Murikami’s work is the Louis Vuitton designs hidden in his work or the sculptures that look more like manufactured toys. When going to look at his work it’s hard to tell if you’re in a store or an art gallery. His art though highly debated is thought provoking to anyone who views it. It begs the question of society’s culture in the future and whether or not art will be separable from commercial brand.