Takashi MURAKAMI

Murakami - Ego

solo show, curated by Massimiliano Gioni

February 9, 2012 - June 24, 2012

Al Riwaq Hall, Doha, Qatar

artist info

press release

Exterior of Al Riwaq Exhibition Hall, Doha, Qatar
Courtesy Perrotin

Exterior of Al Riwaq Exhibition Hall, Doha, Qatar

Murakami – Ego features a number of monumental works in a large, nearly 2,300-square-meter exhibition space, as well as 10 galleries containing focused displays of Murakami’s themes and methods. The exhibition gives the impression of walking inside a three-dimensional self portrait, as visitors step inside the mind of an artist that is populated with hundreds of different characters. The exhibition brings together a number of important series within the artist’s oeuvre which have never been fully assembled before, providing a rare opportunity to observe the full scope of the themes and methods which have defined his work.

“I like to think of this exhibition as the foundation of ‘Murakami City’,” said curator Massimiliano Gioni. “Takashi has conceived of this show as an urban experience, a walk into a gigantic artificial landscape, a science fiction environment. For its scale and ambition it is an absolutely unique exhibition, and one that could only be realized here in Doha, thanks to the commitment of the Qatar Museums Authority which has embraced the artist’s vision with incredible generosity.”

Upon entering Al Riwaq, visitors immediately encounter the artist in the form of the massive SelfPortrait Balloon (2012), a 6-meter high inflatable sculpture. In a striking difference from his signature anime-inspired style, Murakami depicts himself realistically, dressed in everyday clothes with the posture of a giant Buddha sculpture, extending his hand outwards in a gesture of greeting.

For the exhibition, Murakami also has been able to realize his largest painted work to date. The 500 Arhats (2012), stretches 100 meters, wrapping around three sides of the main gallery space, and is divided into four 25-meter sections devoted to wind, forest, fire and mountain. Conceived as a response to the recent natural disasters in Japan, the work draws on traditional historical painting to create a contemporary monument to the power of nature in Japanese life. Inspired by paintings produced by Japanese monks over 600 years ago in response to earthquakes, floods and political turmoil of the period, the work is a stylistic departure for the artist.

“With the recent disasters, I was able to experience firsthand the way that such catastrophes have served as the origin point for the spread of Japanese religion and culture,” explained Takashi Murakami. “In the sense that Japan's artistic tradition developed in the same way, this new piece is for me a kind of Guernica.”

Another grand work created for the exhibition is a massive circus tent that serves as a theater for Murakami’s recent animated films. Covered with the artist’s signature Eye pattern, the tent epitomizes how Murakami uses mass entertainment to convey serious content. A number of the artist’s inflatable sculptures also are on view, including the actual Kaikai Kiki balloons featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

For this presentation, Murakami has conceived of the exhibition itself as a work of art, creating new modes of display that include sculptural pedestals with digital animation. In another departure, Murakami – Ego will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the artist’s process of creating a large-scale sculpture, with hundreds of drawings, models and studies for a new Daruma work. Inspired by the grotesque legend of a pious monk whose image evolved into a good luck charm, Murakami reclaims the original intensity of Daruma with an expressive, distorted figure, covered in dozens of screaming mouths.

The exhibition features the entire cast of characters from Murakami’s universe—like Mr. DOB, Kaikai and Kiki, and Oval Buddha—whose distinct personalities evolve over disparate works from cute to terrifying. Also on view are complete series like Pom & Me, a mock-heroic, manga-style depiction of the artist and his real-life dog produced in gold, platinum, bronze and carbon fiber. Murakami’s signature smiling flowers are also represented in paintings, sculptures and curtains that drape the entrance to the exhibition.

A fully-illustrated Murakami – Ego catalogue will be available in spring 2012 , featuring writings and notes by Takashi Murakami, an essay with exhibition curator Massimiliano Gioni, and images from the exhibition.
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin

Left: "PINK-TIME", 2008 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 300 x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 9.80 feet x 2 inches / Unique
Middle:"And Then, And Then And Then And Then And Then And Then (Red)", 2012 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 300 x 300 cm (en 2 panneaux) / 9.80 x 98.5 feet / Unique
Right:"And Then, And Then And Then And Then And Then And Then (Blue)", 2012 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 300 x 300 cm (en 2 panneaux) / 9.80 x 9.80 feet / Unique
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Left: "And Then, When That's Done...... I Change. What I Was Yesterday Is Cast Aside, Like An Insect Shedding Its Skin", 2009 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 300 x 300 cm (en 2 panneaux) / 9.80 x 9.80 feet (2 panels) / Unique
Middle: "TIME - camouflage moss green", 2009 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 300 x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 9.80 feet x 2 inches / Unique Right: "BOKAN - camouflage pink", 2009 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. / 300 x 300 x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 9.80 feet x 2 inches / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Left: "Wow, Kaikai Kiki", 2010-2011/ Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 608 x 5,08 cm (5 panneaux) / 9.80 feet x 19.81 feet x 2 inches (in 5 pannels) / Unique
Middle: "Kaikai & Kiki", 2000-2005 / Oil paint, acrylic, synthetic resins, fiberglass and iron / 222 x 96 x 46 cm (chaque) / 7.3 feet x 37 inches x 18 1/4 inches (each) / AP/5
Right:"Lots, Lots of Kaikai and Kiki", 2009 / Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 608 x 5,08 cm (5 panneaux) / 9.80 feet x 19.81 feet x 2 inches (5 panels) / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Front: "Kaikai & Kiki", 2000-2005 / Oil paint, acrylic, synthetic resins, fiberglass and iron / 222 x 96 x 46 cm (chaque) / 7.3 feet x 37 inches x 18 1/4 inches (each) / AP/5
Back: "Lots, Lots of Kaikai and Kiki", 2009 / Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 608 x 5,08 cm (5 panneaux) / 9.80 feet x 19.81 feet x 2 inches (5 panels) / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

From Left to Right: "Infinity", 2008 / Acrylic, gold leaf and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. / 300 x 234,4 cm x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 7.8 feet x 2 inches / Unique
"NGC 2371-2 (Gemini Nebula)", 2009 / Acrylic, platinum leaf and gold leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. / 300 x 234,4 x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 7.8 feet x 2 inches / Unique
"Warp", 2009 / Acrylic, platinum leaf and gold leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame / 300 x 234,4 x 5,08 cm / 9.80 feet x 7.8 feet x 2 inches / Unique
"Dumb Compass", 2008 / Acrylic, gold leaf and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminum frame. / 300 x 234,4 cm / 9.80 x 7.8 fee /t Unique
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Left: "Warhol/Silver", 2009 / Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on board / 150 cm diamètre / 59 inches diameter / Unique
"Even The Digital Realm Has Flowers To Offer!", 2010 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 150 cm diamètre / 59 inches diameter / Unique
"Purple Flowers In A Bouquet", 2010 / Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on board / 150 cm diamètre / 59 inches diameter / Unique
Right: "Warhol/Gold", 2009 / Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on board / 150 cm diamètre / 59 inches diameter / Unique
"Kansei Kōrin Red Stream", 2009 / Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas mounted on board / 150 cm diamètre / 59 inches diameter / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Left: "Dragon In Clouds - Red Mutation", 2010 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 363 x 1800 x 7 cm (9 panneaux) / 11.10 feet x 59.0 feet x 2 3/4 inches (9 pannels) / Unique
Right: "Panda", 2003 / Acrylic on fiberglass with antique Louis Vuitton trunk / 255,3 x 165,1 x 109,2 cm / 8.4 feet x 65 3/4 inches x 43 inches / AP?2/3+2AP
Courtesy Perrotin

Right: "Oval Buddha" 2007-2010 / Aluminum and platinum leaf / 568 x 318,9 x 311,5 cm /18.7 x 10.5 x 10.2 feet / 1/3 + 2AP
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin

"World of Lotus" (Base for Oval Buddha), 2012 / LED, plywood, steel, aluminum composite / 950 x 310 cm / 31.2 x 10.2 feet / Unique
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"The 500 Arhats" 2012 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 302 x 10000 cm
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Courtesy Perrotin

Inside the tent
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"Tongari-Kun", 2003-2005 / Oil paint, acrylic, synthetic resins, fiberglass and iron / 702 x 350 x 350 cm / 23.0 x 11.5 x 11.5 feet / AP1/2 + 3ED
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin

Left to right: "Pom & Me", 2009 / Carbon fiber, acrylic and base in Corian / 133 x 107 x 90 cm / 52 1/2 x 34 1/4 x 27 1/2 inches / Unique
"Pom & Me", 2009-2010 / Bronze, steel and base in black Corian / 133x107x90cm/521/2x421/4x351/2 inches / Unique
"Pom & Me", 2009-2010 / Aluminum, platinum leaf, steel and base in Corian / 133 x 107 x 90 cm / 52 1/2 x 42 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches / Unique
"Pom & Me", 2009-2010 / Aluminum, gold leaf, steel and base in Corian / 133 x 107 x 90 cm / 52 1/2 x 42 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches / Unique
"Pom & Me", 2009-2010 / Carbon fiber, acrylic and Corian base. / 133 x 107 x 90 cm / 52 1/2 x 34 1/4 x 27 1/2 inches / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin

Left: "Superflat Flowers", 2010 / FRP, carbon fiber, steel, acrylic and Corian base 287 x 450 x 91 cm / (with pedestal - pedestal itself : 26 x 65 x 28 inches / 66 x 165 x 71 cm) / 9.4 feet x 14.9 feet x 35 3/4 inches / 1/3 + 2AP
Courtesy Perrotin

"Superflat Flowers", 2010 / FRP, carbon fiber, steel, acrylic and Corian base 287 x 450 x 91 cm / (with pedestal - pedestal itself : 26 x 65 x 28 inches / 66 x 165 x 71 cm) / 9.4 feet x 14.9 feet x 35 3/4 inches / 1/3 + 2AP
Courtesy Perrotin

Left:"Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow, Blue, And Death", 2010 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminium frame / 300 x 234,4 x 5 cm / 9.80 feet x 7.8 feet x 2 inches / Unique
Middle: "Yume Lion (The Dream Lion)", 2009 / Carbon fiber, acrylic, steel and base in Corian 191 x 127 x 110 cm / 6.3 feet x 50 1/2 inches x 43 1/4 inches / Unique
Right: "End Of Line", 2011 / Acrylic and canvas mounted on board / 300 x 234,4 cm / 9.80 x 7.8 feet / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

"Of Chinese Lions, Peonies, Skulls, And Fountains", 2011 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board / 300 x 600 cm / 9.80 x 19.8 feet / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Left: "In the heart's eye, a universe", 2007 / Acrylic on canvas mounted on board, signage in gold leaf. / 180 x 213,2 x 5 cm / 70 3/4 inches x 6.11 feet x 2 inches / Unique
Middle: "Oval Buddha", 2011 / Bronze, stainless steel and gold leaf, base in stainless steel and Corian / 156,5 x 84 x 81 cm / 63 1/2 x 33 x 33 inches / AP2/10+3AP
Right: "Release Chakra's Gate at this Instant", 2008 / Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on board (6 panels). / 160 x 351 x 5 cm (6 panneaux) / 63 inches x 11.6 feet x 2 inches (6 pannels) / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin

"Daruma" (Title to be determined), 2009-2011 / Foamed styrol and resin. / 3mdehaut /9.84feethigh / 2/3 +2AP
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Courtesy Perrotin

View of the gift Shop
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"Welcome to Murakami - Ego", 2012
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Exterior of Al Riwaq Exhibition Hall, Doha, Qatar
Courtesy Perrotin

Courtesy Perrotin