Takashi Murakami, From Pop Culture Icon to Japanese Art Historian
The artist, known worldwide for his 'pop culture' pieces, draws on Japanese tradition as his main source of inspiration.
View this post on Instagram
If Takashi Murakami were to hold on to just one reference book to stimulate his creativity, it would be Lineage of Eccentrics, which he considers to be his personal bible. This book, published in 1970, is an anthology that compiles the greatest artists in Japanese history, by Tsuji Nobuo, a renowned art historian and Murakami’s mentor for several years. The two men are so close that they maintain a public correspondence and set each other artistic challenges.
This special relationship was solidified with a joint exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in 2017, which led to a co-authored book, also entitled Lineage of Eccentrics, that links Murakami’s work to the pictorial tradition that Nobou specialises in. This exciting work detaches Murakami from pop culture and takes him back to the very essence of Japan and its grand masters. This re-contextualisation is enlightening and rich in detail.
Takashi Murakami: Lineage of Eccentrics (2018), by Takashi Murakami and Nobuo Tsuji, published by MFA Publications (available only in English)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
TRENDING
-
The Tradition of the Black Eggs of Mount Hakone
In the volcanic valley of Owakudani, curious looking black eggs with beneficial properties are cooked in the sulphurous waters.
-
Gashadokuro, the Legend of the Starving Skeleton
This mythical creature, with a thirst for blood and revenge, has been a fearsome presence in Japanese popular culture for centuries.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Colour Photos of Yakuza Tattoos from the Meiji Period
19th-century photographs have captured the usually hidden tattoos that covered the bodies of the members of Japanese organised crime gangs.
-
‘YUGEN’ at Art Fair Tokyo: Illumination through Obscurity
In this exhibition curated by Tara Londi, eight international artists gave their rendition of the fundamental Japanese aesthetic concept.
