Takashi Murakami

"If my art looks positive and cheerful, I would doubt my art was accepted in the contemporary art scene. My art is not Pop art. It is a record of the struggle of the discriminated people." - Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami (村上隆 Murakami Takashi^?, born in Tokyo) is an internationally prolific contemporary Japanese artist. He works in fine arts media—such as painting and sculpture—as well as what is conventionally considered commercial media —fashion, merchandise, and animation— and is known for blurring the line between high and low arts. He coined the term superflat, which describes both the aesthetic characteristics of the Japanese artistic tradition and the nature of post-war Japanese culture and society. Superflat is also used as a moniker to describe Murakami’s own artistic style and that of other Japanese artists he has influenced.

Murakami is the founder and President of Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., through which he manages the careers of several younger artists and organizes the biannual art fair GEISAI.

Takashi Murakami and LV Make First Designer QR Code

This QR facelift, combining the designs of Louis Vuitton with Takashi Murakami, is something worth a look.

"This may be the first designer QR code ever."

Jean Snow says the stylized QR code works like the standard, barcode-like graphics, while Device adds that its the first time Takashi Murakami’s work has been interactive. Created by Japanese ad firm SET, the project is mostly just to promote other work the two companies have done together. But the creativity factor can’t be denied. It’s pretty neat.