Having recently been introduced to and later thoroughly researching the works of the artist Takashi Murakami I’m wondering what all the buzz is about. In many cases he is regarded in the art world as “the next big thing.” But looking at his work all I see is redundancy. The old echos of of Pop. It has been said that what is old is new again but I believe that what is old is just that. Old. Just another rehash. Murakami, in a video interview, himself stated that it might be once in a hundred years that one or two artists might bring something new and innvovative to the world of art. Might this be an excuse for his repetitions?
Upon my first viewing of his sculptures the first artist who came to mind was Jeff Koons. His large scale metal works are the closest knock-off of Koons work replacing Koons’ rabbit with a mouse on steroids.
Koons’ Rabbit Murakami’s Mouse
His work also rivals Koons’ in that his amount of output is astounding. And like Koons he probably has access to an unlimited amount of financing and a labor force that would rival that of the building of the pyramids. Deep pockets must have realized the potential of profitability of mass manufacturing of Louis Vuitton fashionable artifacts like the pillows, wallpaper, handbags, T-shirts and woman’s accessories trademarked with the Murakami signature.
And speaking of universal signatures how about Mickey Mouse?
And it’s variation on a theme......
An inexhaustible supply for variations.
Where can it all end? Or will it end?
Murakami’s duplicities are reminiscent of Warhol’s soup cans, the scale reminiscent of Rosenquist’s billboard paintings, and the saleability being that of the smiley face of Harvey Ross Ball.
The commercial potential of Murakami’s Pop re-dos could put American commerce back on the map! He certainly has all the chutzpah which rivals that of P.T. Barnum who was quoted as saying “There’s a sucker born every minute!”
So is this where art in the twentieth century has taken us? Is the joke on us? The Pop artists of the mid twentieth century held Edward Hopper in high esteem and considered Hopper as the father of Pop. Seems Koons and the Pop artists of the last century have become the mentors for Murakami with his take on Pop reinventing itself on steroids. Thinking that great art should build on what came before it I see Murakami’s work just giving a new face to an old art form. But hey, who can pass up the big bucks in a suffering economy. And the suckers are eating it up!
Waiting for the next big thing. Waiting...... waiting.
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