Takashi Murakami Brings ‘JAPONISME’ Full Circle at Gagosian

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In the upcoming exhibit titled “Japonisme -> Cognitive Revolution: Learning from Hiroshige,” which will be displayed at Gagosian’s gallery on West 21st Street in New York, Takashi Murakami offers a fresh perspective on art history from May 8 to July 12.

121 new and contemporary pieces are showcased, all created as a tribute to the enduring impact of the ukiyo-e school, particularly focusing on Utagawa Hiroshige’s “100 Famous Views”. These works stand out due to their compelling narratives, distinctive styles, and exceptional techniques. In homage to Japonisme – the 19th-century Western admiration for Japanese art – Murakami also reimagines paintings by European Impressionists and Post-Impressionists who were captivated by ukiyo-e, reflecting his own perspective. This process symbolically completes the cultural exchange cycle while reclaiming the visual language of flatness, asymmetrical grandeur, and soft colors.

The exhibition delves deeper into Murakami’s exploration of replicas – a topic that has been highlighted in “Japanese Art History according to Takashi Murakami” at the gallery’s branch in London. As the artist explained, he is involved in a form of artistic hybridization. This refers to the process where one generation is produced by crossing two distinct types, and then, in subsequent generations, one of the original types is crossed back with the offspring.

The upcoming show will feature fresh paintings revealing the ancestry of Louis Vuitton’s renowned logo and checkerboard design, linking it to the Japanese family crest (kamon) and traditional Ichimatsu checkerboard pattern, further exploring themes of inspiration and authenticity in the conversation.

Gagosian West 21st Street
522 W 21st St,
New York, NY 10011

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2025-04-30 22:26