Takashi Murakami’s Inochi

By Kevin Yeoh • 14 Apr 2009 in Design

Thirsty for JUICE content? Quench your cravings on our Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp

If you don’t know, Takashi Murakami is one of the most prolific contemporary Japanese artists today. Murakami is also the guy who designs covers for Kanye West’s singles, likeÂ ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’, ‘Flashing Lights’, and ‘Stronger’ to name a few. He evenÂ directed the artwork for the whole Graduation album. Just last year, he made it to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list – the only visual artist to be included.

Murakami’s style is called ‘Superflat’ which is characterised by flat planes of colour and graphic images involving a character style derived from anime and manga. ‘Superflat’ is an artistic style that comments on otaku (Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games) lifestyle and subculture, as well as consumerism and sexual fetishism. Oo-er.

Like Andy Warhol, Takashi Murakami takes low culture, repackages it and sells it to the highest bidder in the “high-art” market. He’s recently moved away from his trademark bright and bold style which includes cartoon elements.

Inochi, based on a 2002 movie by Shinohara Tetsuo with Murakami, figures 5 different dolls for the exhibition which is now running at the Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo. Produced by Medicom for Takashi Murakami, Inochi is limited to 200 pieces in each version andÂ are priced at approximately USD$1500 each. A limited number of Inochi figures will be available for purchase directly at the show, which runs until 16 April.

Here’s a pic of Murakami with a life-size sculpture of Inochi. Inochi is based on a memoir of the same title by the Korean-Japanese author Yu Miri. This is Inochi. Hold tight.Inochi is based on a memoir of the same title by the Korean-Japanese author Yu Miri. This is Inochi. Hold tight.