Takashi Murakami Has Covered Practically Every Square Inch of a New Hong Kong Art Center With His Colorful Work. See the Show Here

Takashi Murakami’s tripped-out universe has touched down in Hong
Kong.

The 57-year-old artist’s mix of fashion, graphic art, cosplay,
and graffiti is spread across every crevice of the three floors of
the new Tai Kwun Contemporary. The show, titled “Murakami versus
Murakami,” leaves no small part of his career unexplored and no
surface of the exhibition space untouched as it examines the
different aspects of the Murakami brand.

The show is on view through September 1 in the swank new
institution, housed in a former Central Police Station complex,
that was redesigned by Herzog & de Meuron at the cost
of HK$3.8 billion. The center officially opened last May as
non-collecting, non-profit organization modeled on Europe’s
kunsthalles.

“Tobias [Berger] requested I make chaos, Murakami says in a
preview video for the exhibition, referring to the co-curator and
the head of arts at Tai Kwun. Indeed, the show is anchored in
Murakami’s maximal aesthetic and his carefully controlled
pandemonium of colors, shapes, and hyper-intense layering. Berger
suggests that it is the most ambitious solo show by a contemporary
artist to take place in Hong Kong.

The show, which presents some 60 paintings and sculptures,
includes gold and white ensō paintings, which reference a Zen
Buddhist painting practice, that are hung in a room painted
entirely gold. Outside, there are hundreds of pairs of blue
slippers, waiting for visitors to step into before they can enter.
At the opening in June, the only person who could walk in his own
shoes was Murakami, who had silver footwear that were wiped down
beforehand.

Elsewhere, the artist’s sci-fi scenographic paintings and
drawings tower over viewers. Yet the show does not stop there.
Pieces from the artist’s personal collection are also included, as
well as his zanny costume designs, which are draped over mannequins
made in his likeness. Basically, it is a room full of Murakamis in
glass boxes who look like they’re shouting at you.

“Murakami versus Murakami” is on view through September 1 at
the Tai Kwun Center for Heritage and Arts, located at 10 Hollywood
Rd, Central in Hong Kong. 

The post Takashi Murakami Has Covered Practically Every
Square Inch of a New Hong Kong Art Center With His Colorful Work.
See the Show Here appeared first on artnet News.