"Murakami vs Murakami" is a major survey exhibition of the Japanese artist's works. The show is currently on at the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts in Hong Kong. Scroll through the gallery for more images from the show.
"Murakami vs Murakami" is a major survey exhibition of the Japanese artist's works. The show is currently on at the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts in Hong Kong. Scroll through the gallery for more images from the show.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
A room drenched in gold from floor to ceiling. The circle motif in this painting, "Ensō: Shangri" -- "Enso" literally means "circle" -- symbolizes emptiness, unity and infinity in Zen Buddhism.
A room drenched in gold from floor to ceiling. The circle motif in this painting, "Ensō: Shangri" -- "Enso" literally means "circle" -- symbolizes emptiness, unity and infinity in Zen Buddhism.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
The exhibit features over 60 artworks.
The exhibit features over 60 artworks.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Two large scale sculptures called "Kaikai" (2019) and "Kiki" (2019) greet visitors outside the gallery.
Two large scale sculptures called "Kaikai" (2019) and "Kiki" (2019) greet visitors outside the gallery.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
This room immerses guests in Murakami's signature flowers, which even extend to the custom carpet.
This room immerses guests in Murakami's signature flowers, which even extend to the custom carpet.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
A series of triptychs draw inspiration from works by artist Francis Bacon. From left to right: "Bacon: Monsters" (2019) and "Bacon: Three Studies of Lucian Freud, Red and Black" (2017).
A series of triptychs draw inspiration from works by artist Francis Bacon. From left to right: "Bacon: Monsters" (2019) and "Bacon: Three Studies of Lucian Freud, Red and Black" (2017).
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Since the early 2000s, Murakami has made artworks inspired by Bacon's characteristic distorted figures. This triptych, "Bacon: Three Studies of Lucian Freud, Red and Black" (2017), features similar compositions to Bacon's 1969 portraits of painter Lucian Freud.
Since the early 2000s, Murakami has made artworks inspired by Bacon's characteristic distorted figures. This triptych, "Bacon: Three Studies of Lucian Freud, Red and Black" (2017), features similar compositions to Bacon's 1969 portraits of painter Lucian Freud.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Tan Tan Bo, a figure based on a manga character favored by young Murakami, appears in many of Murakami's paintings spewing bodily fluids in dazzling psychedelic colors. From left to right: "Excuse Painting: Artist, Museum, Gallery" (2019), "Bacon: Scream" (2019), "Tan Tan Bo Black Hole" (2019) and "Excuse Painting: The Secret of DOB's Birth" (2019).
Tan Tan Bo, a figure based on a manga character favored by young Murakami, appears in many of Murakami's paintings spewing bodily fluids in dazzling psychedelic colors. From left to right: "Excuse Painting: Artist, Museum, Gallery" (2019), "Bacon: Scream" (2019), "Tan Tan Bo Black Hole" (2019) and "Excuse Painting: The Secret of DOB's Birth" (2019).
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
One of the rooms of the exhibition showcases items from Takashi Murakami's art collection.
One of the rooms of the exhibition showcases items from Takashi Murakami's art collection.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Photography by Kitmin Lee
A 4.5 meter-tall gold-leaf clad sculpture called "The Birth Cry of a Universe" dominates the third floor of the exhibit. The massive piece, shown here in front of acrylic paintings "AIUIa" (2019) and AIUIa DOB" (2019), is being exhibited for the first time after over a decade of work.
A 4.5 meter-tall gold-leaf clad sculpture called "The Birth Cry of a Universe" dominates the third floor of the exhibit. The massive piece, shown here in front of acrylic paintings "AIUIa" (2019) and AIUIa DOB" (2019), is being exhibited for the first time after over a decade of work.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
The exhibit also showcases the artist's eccentric costumes, the first time they have been shown in a gallery.
The exhibit also showcases the artist's eccentric costumes, the first time they have been shown in a gallery.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Murakami regularly appears at his own exhibition openings wearing his outlandish designs, which often feature multi-colored furs, gleaming sparkles, and matching headgear.
Murakami regularly appears at his own exhibition openings wearing his outlandish designs, which often feature multi-colored furs, gleaming sparkles, and matching headgear.
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.