Takashi Murakami

The Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is an interesting study in contrasts. He has a Ph.D in Nihonga, the Meiji era effort to revitalize Japanese arts championed by Ernest Fennalosa. Yet he counts modern manga as a major influence in his work along with Andy Warhol and the pop art movement.

Murakami designs Louis Vuitton purses and million dollar artwork yet also makes t-shirts and mass market merchandise. His concept of "Superflat" and how Japanese culture reflects the country's experiences in the last century are illuminatiingly discussed in this great article.

I had a chance to see an exhibit of his work several years ago juxtaposed with that of one of his inspirations Soga Shohaku, the 18th century artist of the eccentric school.

Here's a short video of Murakami discussing his views on art from the NYTimes Magazine.

The artist cooperative that Murakami founded has a website here .