The Murakami Series: The Intersection of Art and Commerce
Today is the final day of my week long series featuring the works of Takashi Murakami.
I hope you've enjoyed this week long series.
“Often referred to as “Japan’s Andy Warhol,” Murakami blurs the line between art, fashion, and popular culture—particularly with the design of Chicago-born rap artist, Kanye West’s album, “Graduation.” The Chicago Tribune
It’s no wonder West and Murakami are so inspired by each other. In recent years, we have seen fashion, art, and hip-hop culture intersect on multiple platforms. When we asked Marc Ecko, founder of “Complex” magazine and colleague-turned-friend of Murakami, about this intersection in recent years, he said it was all about the consumer wanting products that are more catered to what they are influenced by. The Chicago Tribune
“It’s the disintermediation of influence. The internet emphasizes that people want to be the authors of their own influence and don’t necessarily want to outsource it to institutions. Where traditional fashion houses had that influence over communication, those things are flattening. Audience validation can be expressed now directly between the consumer and the producer because of internet culture.” The Chicago Tribune
(Through September 24th, 2017, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is holding an exhibition of the work of Takashi Murakami called "The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg". The exhibition features 50 works spanning 3 decades of his career, showcasing how the artist operates at the intersection of art, commerce and popular culture. Click here for details.)
