February 17, in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao opened retrospective exhibition of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami (Takashi Murakami). Murakami, who recently turned 47 years old, considered one of the «pillars» Market for Contemporary Art - along with authors such as Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons) and Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst).

Retrospective, which is called the © MURAKAMI, already seen in Los Angeles, New York and Frankfurt. Her organized Шиммел Paul (Paul Schimmel), Los andzhelesskogo curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art (LA MOCA). The exhibition displays over 90 works of Murakami: paintings, sculptures, installations and video.

The artist often compared to Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol), that it was a huge compliment: Warhol fan more than Murakami, did not find. In 1996 he founded the studio, named Hiropon Factory - in honor of uorholovskoy «Factory». Five years later, however, the studio was renamed Kaikai Kiki - from the Japanese adjective «kikikaykay», which means «odd» or «disturbing». Murakami assistants who work at Kaikai Kiki, produce his work - the artist himself only makes the designs and manages the process. In addition, the studio is developing souvenirs and arrange for the art-fair GEISAI, which is held twice a year.

Unlike many other artists who worked factory assistants, Murakami strongly contributes to the career of his assistants. Now Kaikai Kiki «advanced» Creativity eight artists, six of them - were women. Some, such as Ray Sato (Rei Sato), combining creativity with the work on the «Factory» Murakami. The best known among the artists Kaikai Kiki is a quiet Aosima (Chiho Aoshima), which used to also engaged in the production of his paintings «boss», but then, having decided to devote himself entirely his own creation, left. Murakami, however, it does not обиделся: he even allowed her to work in his office.

Creativity Murakami and his wards are united that the main inspiration for them all are Japanese comics «manga» and cartoons «anime». Therefore the characters of their paintings and installations can be pretty, and frightening at the same time. In 2000, Murakami has organized an exhibition entitled Superflatness, which introduced the world of work of their protégé. One of the main objectives of the exhibition was to introduce America to the Japanese subculture called «отаку». This word is called non-fans of anime and manga, often lonely, unsettled young people living in the fictional world. Murakami himself in his youth was a true отаку, it is now rather «отаку-business».

Like many fans of anime and manga, Murakami associate themselves with invented characters. Often it works, you can see a character named Mr. DOB - eared creation of sharp-toothed mouth, round ears and a bunch of eyes. Murakami said that this boy - his alter ego. Mr. DOB often travels psychedelic universe where live grimace flowers, flying mushrooms with huge eyes and strange zveryugi, such as smiling and rabbit Kaikan trehglazaya klykastaya mouse Kiki. All of these wonderful creatures could wish to settle in their own homes - bought the picture for a few hundred thousand dollars, print a couple thousand dollars for a toy or twenty. And, of course, all of them can be seen in retrospect, the artist in Bilbao.

The most important exhibits is a huge sculpture «Oval Buddha», which the artist and his assistants have completed recently. Oval Buddha, as well as Mr. DOB, is self-painter. A sculpture of two people: one calm, with his eyes closed, others - with a huge toothy open mouth.

Murakami retrospective at Guggenheim Museum will run until May 31.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: artdaily.com , artinvestment.ru

P.S. About Takashi Murakami is also possible to read:

Takashi Murakami arrived in Moscow