Known for his multi-colored contemporary art and signature smiley flower designs, Takashi Murakami is one of the most celebrated Japanese artists of the 21st century. In continuing his legacy, the artist has now announced a forthcoming exhibition entitled, “Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto.”
Taking place at the KYOCERA Museum of Art in Kyoto City, the large-scale exhibition will chronicle the extent of Murakami’s work – also celebrating the museum’s 90th anniversary. For the announcement, an introductory press conference was held at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo where Murakami offered a look at what’s to come from the exhibition and why he focused on Kyoto for it.
Aside from the conference, an iwai-maku (celebration curtain) celebrating the name succession of Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro XIII, who Murakami created the original artwork for, was revealed to take place at the Minamiza Theatre. Additionally, when the “Festive Kaomise Production: Grand Kabuki Starring Actors from the East and West of Japan,” began on December 1 at the theater, the original painting by Murakami was revealed for the first time in Kyoto.
Take a look at the reveal conference in the gallery above. The “Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto” exhibition is set to open on Saturday, February 3, 2024. The exhibition will run through Sunday, September 1, 2024.
