What do Kanye West, Louis Vuitton, and Pharell Williams all
have in common? They’ve all collaborated with Japanese visual artist Takashi
Murakami. You might recognize his art from the cover of Kanye West’s 2007
album, “Graduation”.
Murakami’s art is influenced by traditional Japanese art,
pop culture characters, and cartoons. He
merges commercial designs and fine art, creating pieces that fit perfectly on
both gallery walls and t-shirts. While his art often resembled pop art seen in
the West, they often depict creatures and people from Japanese mythology. He
uses unique imagery and style that he calls “superflat” to portray traditional
ideas and figures.
Murakami often collaborates with other creatives, in
fashion, music, and occasionally animation. He has worked with big name fashion
brands such as Louis Vuitton and Supreme, as well as smaller local brands.
Collaboration is an integral part of Murakami’s studio
practice as well. He employs young up-and-coming artists as apprentices in his
art studio, where they help him construct his colossal pieces and learn about
art techniques and concepts. The apprentices are included in every step of the
creative process, from the initial sketches to the final piece, where they
contribute to the ideas and compositions. Although the final design is up to
Murakami, the apprentices’ input always influences the art. Murakami searches
for artists to work with who are easy to collaborate with and motivated to
work. He describes his studio as a place where people value creativity and efficiency,
and everyone works together towards common goals, while still encouraging
individual creativity and expression.
One of the things that always impressed me about Murakami's work is the scale of it. His works often cover entire walls and span meters into the air. None of this would be possible without the work of highly skilled collaborators. It just shows how many individuals can work together to create something amazing that they could not have done alone.
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