Categories: News

Takashi Murakami launches lottery amid reports of bankruptcy

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese painter, sculptor, and designer. Takashi Murakami’s work is an original symbiosis of modern pop culture and “high” art. His work traces the influence of popular in Japan cartoons – anime, and comics – manga. One of the author’s key works is a kind of self-portrait, his alter-ego – Mr. Dob. The character is a creature with a round head and large ears, one is drawn with the Latin letter D, on the other – B, the head depicts the letter O. DOB is an abbreviation for “Dobojite” (Why?). The phrase is associated with Japanese culture, as it belongs to the famous comedian Toru Yuri. However, Murakami chose it as an appeal to all world cultures, perceived as a kind of call for thought.

For many years now, the author’s calling card has been flower faces depicting the whole spectrum of emotions – smiling, cheerful, sad, angry, scared.

Killer Pink, Takashi Murakami

Murakami is engaged not only in painting but also creates garments, all kinds of accessories with images of his works – from bags to cushions and rugs for a computer mouse. He collaborated with Marc Jacobs – creative director of the renowned Louis Vuitton brand – to create the Cosmic Blossom collection of bags for the brand.

In addition to his creative activities, Murakami oversees commercial projects.

Takashi Murakami announced in an emotional video that his company was on the verge of bankruptcy. A couple of weeks after that, it became known that the artist was preparing a new project – a charity lottery.

According to posts on the artist’s social networks, to participate in the lottery, it is enough to register in a special NTWRK application developed for iOS and Android. Registration is paid and is analogous to buying a lottery ticket.

The raffle prizes will take place on July 30, 2020. The winners will receive prints from the artist’s new circulation series, printed in an edition of 300 copies and including 6 subjects with the iconic drawings of flowers and Murakami skulls. Each edition sheet – a black stencil print – the artist will personally finish with spray paint, sign and number.

 

All funds raised will go to support human rights organizations specializing in combating racism. Lottery revenues are expected to exceed $ 1 million.

Takashi Murakami said that the role of an artist is to see the present and display it for a future audience. But if his art can change the world here and now, he wants to not only do his part to pay back debts but also financially support a society suffering from racial injustice.

Helen

Recent Posts

A pure symbiosis “PERFECT STORM” by Fridriks and Kaláb flourishes with beautiful art and personal endeavors

Venturing into unknown territory, artists Katrin Fridriks and Jan Kaláb took a chance on one…

1 week ago

Pushing the Boundaries of Artistic Expression with Twilight’s Tapestry: Traces of Time and Color

Pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, visionary artist Melissa Herrington’s large-scale, abstract paintings blur the boundaries between mediums,…

1 week ago

Alexandre Iakovleff: A Multifaceted Artist and His Journey Through Art

Alexandre Iakovleff (1887-1938) - famous Russian painter, graphic artist, master of drawing, portraitist, author of…

2 weeks ago

Danish Artist’s Baroque-Style Circus of Animals is Back in the U.S

Drawing inspiration from a wide breadth of sources, including ancient mythology, fairy tales and fables,…

3 weeks ago

Sena Kwon Shapes the Research Realm with Insightful Figures

It is irregular for illustrators to work alongside research and development industries, such as public…

4 weeks ago

Exhibited for the First Time in the U.S. – New Sculptures by Bjørn Okholm Skaarup {April 4 – May 15}

Beginning Thursday, April 4 and running through Thursday May 18, Cavalier Gallery is pleased to present the…

4 weeks ago