Murakami: Unfamiliar PeopleSwelling of Monsterized Human Ego

This fresh look at artist Takashi Murakami takes on the monstrous themes of rampant consumerism, human fallibility, and the perils of life in the digital fast lane, in works from the past decade One of Japans leading contemporary artists, Takashi Murakami (b. 1962) is known for a wide-ranging practice that encompasses not only fine art but fashion, consumer products, curation, and entertainment. Founder of the Superflat movement, Murakami makes art that is larger than life, boldly colored, and buoyant, with a Pop sensibility that draws inspiration from anime and manga. But beyond the happy flowers and kawaii characters that have defined Murakamis career lurk darker manifestations: the sharp-toothed, multi-eyed monsters that have increasingly become the artists vehicle for expressing the effects of rampant consumerism, human fallibility, and the perils of life in the digital fast lane. This book explores these themes in works from the last decade, presenting a disquieting vision of monsterized beings born in an era of unprecedented environmental, political, and social turmoil. Conversations with Murakami and essays by Laura W. Allen, Hiroko Ikegami, and Masako Shiba deconstruct what monsters mean to the artist and reflect on new directions in Murakamis sculpture and the genesis of his recent NFT projects. The book features lavish color illustrations, a plastic jacket, dyed edges, and four gatefolds. Published in association with the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Exhibition Schedule: Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (September 15, 2023February 12, 2024)