SHANNON URTNOWSKI
A&E Editor
Imagining a colorful world of flowers and psychedelic images isn’t the only way to reminisce about the 1960s any longer — the newest exhibition at the Geffen Contemporary at Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), “Murakami,” is like stepping into a time portal.
More than 90 colorful and vibrant works created by artist Takashi Murakami, born in Japan in the 1960s, are on display at the museum. They vary in form, including paintings, sculptures and film and take up more than 35,000 square feet.
The exhibit is Murakami’s first large-scale comprehensive exhibit on the West coast, according to Mika Yoshitake, a MOCA project coordinator who worked closely with “Murakami” curator Paul Schimmel,
“Takashi Murakami is a well-established artist, but I don’t think he’s ever had this kind of exposure,” Yoshitake said. “The MOCA has a long history with Murakami, and we wanted very much to hold a Murakami exhibit.”
The exhibit, which is open from Oct. 29 to Feb. 11, features works such as Murakami’s “The Castle of Tin Tin,” “Tan Tan Bo” and “Flower ball.”
These works all exemplify Murakami’s attention to detail and use of contrasting color, which brings depth to the images that line the walls of the MOCA.
Senior Ian McNab, who visited “Murakami” last weekend, said the eccentricity and vibrancy of the exhibit is hard to miss.
“It was just so colorful and playful,” he said. “I would love to go back.”
Dr. Michael Zakian, director of Pepperdine’s Frederick R. Weisman Museum, agreed, adding that the youthful works appeal to visitors of all ages.
“A lot of his imagery looks cartoon-like,” Zakian said. “Murakami was very much influenced by contemporary Japanese animation.”
Zakian added, using “Flower balls” as an example, that Murakami blended Andy Warhol’s famous images of flowers with Japanese animation to create his own anime-inspired version of the works.
“He combined very western art … with this Japanese animation tradition,” Zakian said. “I think this gives his art a kind of joyous, exuberant feeling.”
In addition to showcasing traditional forms of art, like painting and sculptures, “Murakami” also hosts interactive medias unique to other exhibitions.
For example, as part of a collaboration between Murakami and Louis Vuitton Artistic Director Mark Jacobs that has been in the works since 2000, Murakami and Vuitton have created a line of products, which are showcased at the museum.
The museum contains a fully-functional Louis Vuitton store on the second level, selling a variety of handbags, coin purses, key rings and other items that Murakami helped design.
“This is definitely unprecedented,” Yoshitake said. “I don’t think many other museums have done this before.”
Despite the fact that the merchandise room is unique, Zakian said it is a rather controversial addition.
“It’s gotten good reviews and people seem to like it, but not too long ago that was considered taboo,” he said. “Museums were always very careful in trying to keep their integrity with their exhibitions.”
Murakami is more than an artist, though, and his various efforts exemplify the range of his creative visions.
“He’s a designer and also a curator,” Yoshitake said. “There are so many different aspects of him as an artist and entrepreneur.”
The exhibit also features a screening room showing Kanye West’s new music video for “Good Morning,” which features cartoon illustrations and animation by Murakami.
The video shows on repeat throughout the day, with two other Murakami animations playing in the screening room, as well.
“It has almost that kind of Hollywood aspect,” Yoshitake said. “Murakami was very influenced by Steven Spielberg.”
Murakami also designed the album cover of West’s recent release, “Graduation.”
After closing in Feb., the exhibit will travel to its second stop at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Yoshitake said people should not let the opportunity to view the works pass, however, as the experience is sure to be worthwhile.
“The art itself is really going to blow people away,” she said.
11-08-2007