ABOUT 02
TAKASHI MURAKAMi
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Exhibit
EVENTS 02
gallery Opening
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gallery walkthrough
COURSES 06
The World of Takashi Murakami
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Anime, Manga, and Murakami
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Explore the art and materials Workshops
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spotlight tour
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interactive tour
Time Bokan, 2001
about TAKASHI MURAKAMI Takashi Murakami was born in 1962 in Tokyo, and received his BFA, MFA and PhD from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He founded the Hiropan factory in Tokyo in 1996, which later evolved into Kaikai Kiki Co., a largescale art production and art management corporation. In addition to the production and marketing of Murakami’s work, Kaikai Kiki Co. functions as a supportive environment for the fostering of young Japanese artists. Murakami is also a curator, entrepreneur, and a critical observer of contemporary Japanese society. In 2000, he organized a paradigmatic exhibition of Japanese art titled “Superflat,” which traced the origins of contemporary Japanese visual pop culture to historical Japanese art. He has continued this work in subsequent impactful exhibitions such as “Coloriage” (Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Paris, 2002) and “Little Boy: The Art of Japan’s Exploding Subcultures” (Japan Society, New York, 2005).
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about MURAKAMI’S EXHIBITION One of the most internationally acclaimed artists to emerge from Asia in the postwar era, Takashi Murakami effortlessly navigates between the worlds of fine art and popular culture and is best known for his cartoon-like, “superflat” style. This major traveling retrospective includes key selections spanning the artist’s career, from the early 1990s to the present. More than 90 works in various media—painting, sculpture, installation, and film—are installed in five sections, occupying over 35,000 square feet of exhibition space. The first portion features many of Murakami’s acclaimed large-scale otaku-inspired sculptural figures from the late 1990s. The second section comprises a grid-like shelving display of Murakami’s merchandise. A fully operational Louis Vuitton boutique, showcasing the artist’s collaboration with the designer brand, is on the mezzanine level. The largest portion of the exhibition traces Murakami’s artistic development, including early works that engage branding and the evolution of his signature character, DOB. Of particular importance, is the debut of Oval Buddha, an enormous self-portrait sculpture in the guise of a Buddha, and the premiere of part one of the artist’s first major animated film, kaikai & kiki. New installments of kaikai & kiki will continue at the exhibition tour venues.
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EVENTS
the meaning of the nonsense of the meaning
gallery Opening presented by Louis Vuitton Details date: November 18 time: 7:30pm price: Free with admission
The “Meaning of Nonsense” kicks off by introducing one of the most internationally acclaimed artists to emerge from Asia in the postwar era, Takashi Murakami, as he effortlessly navigates between the worlds of fine art and popular culture and is best known for his cartoon-like, “superflat” style. This major traveling retrospective includes key selections spanning the artist’s career, from the early 1990s to the present.
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gallery Walkthrough Details date : December 15 & 16, 2011 time : 7:00pm price : Free *Advance reservations required. RSVP 213/621-1745 or education@pac.org
Experience the two-part walkthrough of PAC’s Gallery of Japanese Art and Takashi Murakami’s “The Meaning of Invisibility” as curator of Japanese Art Hollis Goodall and Project Coordinator Mika Yoshitake take you on the side-by-side comparison with tradition Japanese artworks and Murakami. A special preview of part one of Takashi Murakami’s new animated film “kaikai & kiki” will be shown.
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courses
The World of Takashi Murakami Details date: January 13 & 15, 2012 time: 7:00pm price: $85 PAC members, $95 nonmembers
Explore the relationship between Takashi Murakami’s work, traditional Japanese painting, and Western pop art through exhibition walkthroughs, slide lectures, and discussions in this two-session course.
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the tranquility of my heart shall be prized above all
Anime, Manga, and Murakami: introduction to animation Details date: February 11, 18, and 25, 2012 time: 10am – 1pm price: $165 ( PAC members ), $175 nonmembers
Get inspired by participating in a three-session course introducing animation through the work of Takashi Murakami. Participants will not only go on a tour of the exhibition, but they will get a chance to discuss manga and anime, and learn basic computer animation techniques too.
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Explore the art and materials Details date: March 2 & 4, 2012 time: 7:00pm price: $85 PAC members, $95 nonmembers *Advance reservations required.
50 Issues at the neighboring Japanese American National Museum, then try your own hand at painting and silk screening.
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i know not. i know.
Spotlight tour presented by The James Irvine Foundation Details date: January 13, 2012 time: 3:00-5:30pm price: Free with admission
On the floor, on the wall, or floating in the air, Takashi Murakami’s art occupies a wide variety of spaces. Join us for a spotlight tour, then create your own floating sculpture.
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Interactive tour presented by the Weingart Foundation Details date: March 24, 2012 time: 1:30-3:00pm price: Free with admission
Explore the Nonsense where you will see, draw, speak, jump, design, laugh with your family, and learn more about Murakami’s fantastic world.
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