Murakami: Beneath the Confection
Takashi Murakami’s ubiquitous flower motifs confer on him an almost one-dimensional, saccharine childishness. However, a cursory glance beneath the surface reveals a furnace of purpose and emotion.
He coined the term ‘Superflat’ in 2001 to describe his work, which carries a few meanings. It is firstly a nod to Japan’s proud history of 2D artworks (as opposed to the 3D aesthetics from the West) during the Edo period (1615-1868). The flat aesthetic is also a remark on the shallowness of consumer culture, which Murakami seemingly at once celebrates, and critically exploits – he has commented in a previous interview, “People hate me in Japan…oh, he’s just money guy”. Perhaps most interesting is the concept that ‘Superflat’ also flattens out the differences between high art and low art; this is exactly what he seems to have done.¹
Marc Jacobs originally invited him to collaborate with Louis Vuitton over 20 years ago, he’s designed cover artwork for Kanye, directed a Billie Eilish music video and sold a single high art piece for more than $15 million USD.
He freely admits he is not a genius; his application to Art School was rejected twice, and his style was developed not from some divine ordinance, but because he realised the pragmatics and economic expedience of having a point of difference.²
Murakami’s social conscience was also revealed in 2020 when he released a collection of prints inspired by the BLM movement, with all proceeds going to help minorities in America. Famously, he labelled Donald Trump as a “loser brand in the US”.
“As someone who was conscious of my own outsider status when I came to America, I can empathize. There’s a certain sadness or sorrow or tragedy that’s associated with being in the minority. Maybe the childish, simplistic lightness in my work kind of pushes back on that or balances it.”³
¹ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Takashi Murakami, [https://youtu.be/-YPOWBQAd1M]
² Hypebeast, The Hysteria of This Flower Explained | Behind The HYPE: Murakami’s Flowers, [https://youtu.be/zPkAQCdXcLc]
³ Alison Beard, Life’s Work: An Interview with Takashi Murakami. Harvard Business Review (March – April 2021)