Our first stop on the itinerary was not to see “Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto” at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art. According to our shared Google Doc itinerary, we were heading to Arashiyama Bamboo grove specifically to see the Otagi Nembutsuji Temple. Rest assured, we eventually made our way there…
Our first night at W Osaka, we woke up to pouring rain. During our complimentary breakfast (our most used AMEX Platinum perk) my brother mentioned that we should go to a museum instead.
My brother suggested going to Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art to see Takashi Murakami’s exhibit. He admired Takashi Murakami’s innovative ideas and the link between traditional Japanese art and modern art. By quickly searching the internet on the hotel’s Wifi, he found Murakami had an exhibit in Kyoto.
I’m thrilled we took a slight detour and went to the museum, but was my sister okay with the change of plans? Going to the museum in another city meant deviating from the itinerary we (mostly my sister) had spent months preparing and fine tuning.
In elementary school, my sister joined the prestigious Academic Decathalon team, specifically the Fine Art category. She spent months analyzing and critiquing art history, artist, and technique while fostering a deeper appreciation for art and teamwork. In other words, she is intellectually stimulated by going to museums. On the fourth Tuesday of the month, you can find her at one of our local museums since it’s free admission.
Takeshi Murakami
We were all familiar with Takeshi Murakami’s artwork. The first time we saw Takeshi Murakami’s art was at Wynn Las Vegas with our parents during a weekend getaway. The 9-foot sculpture “Arrows and Flower Neon Sign” a collaboration with Virgil Abloh, is a bold neon masterpiece that brings instant happiness with its’ bright lights. It’s was so lively and captivating within the corridor of the Wynn resort.
“Virgil Abloh and I created this work inspired by the very neon signs in Las Vegas, so it is as if the work is going to its intended home. I hope our work will help enrich the artistic experience available in the incredible, singular city.”, Murakami said LAS VEGAS, Nov. 12 2018/PRNewsire
DOB in the Strange Forest. 1999
The comings and goings of Mr. DOB and the evolution and amplification of Murakami’s characters was the piece that most resonated with me. Mr. DOB is a figure that is constantly morphing himself into monster Tan Tan Bo then to Gero Tan, to Murakami’s self-portrait, and back to Mr. DOB. I see it as a reinvention of oneself.
The Wind and Thunder Gods and Dragon and Clouds
Murakami took on the theme from Soga Shohaku’s Dragon and Clouds (18th Century) that had a deep impact on him. My brother and my sister purchased hoodies that illustrated Murakami’s version of The Wind and Thunder Gods and Dragon and Clouds. I regret not buying this hoodie. I typically don’t wear hoodies, was the explanation I gave the group. Yet, this was a “once-in-a-lifetime” item that encompassed a shared moment with my siblings. When we left the museum, I regretted not buying this, because it was a distinctive souvenir. I kept telling my sister, “I should have bought the hoodie.” Naturally, my sister said I was just being annoying. Do I have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) ? I don’t need it, but I want it. Yes, I know in every fiber of my being, I still want it.
Murakami’s ‘Flower Parent and Child’ Sculpture
My brother’s favorite was the 13-foot sculpture, ‘Flower Parent and Child’, which served to be a symbol of hope during the COVID pandemic. We enjoyed the mix of art and fashion, adorned with gold. The sculpture glistened on the water.
I’m fascinated with his innovating global presence in pop culture and fashion collaborations with Louis Vuitton. There is a variety of paintings, sculptures, toys, books, and ready-to-wear consumer items available at the exhibit. The three of us just stood there, in silence, and it brought us serenity, despite being in a large crowd of museum goers. I felt intertwined with the two of them, as strands of a rope. Where one of us went, the other belonged. Murakami’s work is a visual language we understood.
Reading List
Superflat (English and Japanese Edition) by Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami Prints: "My First Art" Series
Questions
1. What’s your favorite credit card incentive that you most use while traveling?
2. Have you had buyer’s remorse for buying something that you got on an impulse or pressured to buy while on a trip?