Takashi Murakami: Happy! in Fort Lauderdale

Takashi Murakami is Japan's most well known contemporary artist. Murakami is known as The Warhol of Japan because of his ability to combine fine art and commercial art.

Takashi Murakami at the NSU Museum in Fort Lauderdale

The emotional impact of great artworks is the focus of Happy! a show coming to the NSU Museum in Fort Lauderdale. The show includes works from a variety of artists, and a range of styles, from the 1930s to contemporary artists of today.

"Many of these artists acknowledge that making art is an essential means for them to work out their own trauma and frustrations," says Bonnie Clearwater, the Museum's director and chief curator, "and they suggest that art can provide viewers with a sense of well-being that will help them cope with life's challenges."

With titles like, Open Your Heart Wide and Embrace Happiness, it makes sense that the works of Takashi Murakami are included in this uplifting exhibit. Happy! will be at the NSU Art Museum from October 27, 2019 through July 5, 2020.

Superflat

Takashi Murakami is the father of Superflat, the style of art that combines anime, the art of Japanese cartoons, with ukiyo-e, traditional Japanese wood block prints. Murakami has a PhD from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His focus of study was traditional Nihonga painting.

"I have explained the background of my art and its production consistently using the term "Superflat,"Murakami said, "the concept I came up with by overlaying the painting style of creating a completely flat surface with the cultural predicament of post-war Japan."

His genius is in creating paintings, sculptures, toys and fashion that has universal appeal, which has inspired otaku…super fans of Murakami, who specialize in studying various aspects of his work. Murakami has factories, with dozens of assistants, in the U.S. and Japan. He is a strong supporter of other Japanese artists and of the contemporary Japanese art community.

Takashi Murakami at MoMA

The MoMA design store has included Takashi Murakami's Dob-Kun figure in its fall/winter collection. Mr. DOB is one of Murakami's most recognizable works. The character first appeared in a 1996 painting titled 727. Dob-Kun is nine inches tall and comes in five different colors including the original blue costume. Each figure has  the MoMA logo on the sole. The figures are limited to five per customer and one per color at a cost of $650 each.

The Works of Takashi Murakami at VFA

Please contact us if you would like more information about the works of Takashi Murakami available at VFA.