Takashi Murakami Homage Piece- Complete!

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese artist who is well known for his meticulously cartoon art style. His work features fantasy imagery in a surreal, colourful world. The artwork that he creates often addresses consumerism as well as "blurring" the distinction between high and low art; high and low class. High art includes traditional fine arts such as painting, oils, watercolors. Low art can be seen as inferior and has a negative connotation when in fact, the opposite is true. This includes cartoon and child-like illustrations. Some frequent symbols that appear again and again are squid eyes, beaming flowers, triangular shapes, and an iconic figure that resembles a bear. In his pieces, I especially appreciate the design elements; Murakami emphasizes the unity in disunity especially when it comes to sheer numbers.

Below are samples of his work. I especially appreciate the design elements; Murakami emphasizes on the unity in disunity especially when it comes to sheer numbers.

His work has also piqued the interest of the luxury brand, Louis Vuitton. In the late 2000s, they partnered with Murakami to create one of the most successful commercial collaborations in the luxury bag industry. The bags themselves are a statement, as his style represents the fine line between high and low art. The irony of this is selling things that are traditionally seen as entertainment art on high class goods.

For my homage, I wanted to experiment with his style on a digital medium. I created a chaotic and surrealist depiction of an ordinary day, hence the title. I wanted to also blur the line not between high art and low art like Murakami does, but from reality and what goes on in someone’s brain. I took inspiration from my own daily life. Ever since I passed my driver’s test and got my N, I’ve been driving on my own. It’s a crazy new experience and sometimes borderline frightening. Turning that nervousness into something physical like a beaming flowers and numerous eyeballs is therapeutic in a way. The iconic Murakami symbols are scattered everywhere in my piece as an homage.