He was the only artist in the list of "100 most influential people in the world"
according to the magazine Time.
The artist came to New York to present the next project - a charity auction of works of their own and their friends, the proceeds of which will be sent to help Japan, suffered last year from the earthquake and tsunami. True, the last of his canvases Murakami DOB does not rejoice in life for hallucinogenic mushrooms, and cries, as in the song "New Day."
"The work I did after the tragedy. No one then could not smile in Japan and I could not. We lived in the news, which was the most important information on the background radiation, "- says Murakami.
He was in his Tokyo studio, when at three o'clock local time, today announced the devastating tsunami that struck the country. From the shock of the artist brought another call Yoshitomo Naro, which was 100 kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster. His first words were "how can we help?". Then, the first day of national tragedy and the idea of an auction, which took place during the current week. By the Japanese project immediately joined many prominent American artists - Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst.
"Koons said at once," yes "and created a work specifically for the auction. Hurst surprised me with his desire to be with us, I knew that he and so much of their own charitable projects, but his reply was as fast "- says Murakami.
Japanese superplane
Murakami is known as nisprovergatel Japanese tradition, artistic rebel,
once said that all modern art in Japan is nothing but a subculture. In his books he invented it explains the principle of "superplane" perception, when the taste of the upper classes is not much different from the masses. It is this connection - high and low - Takashi embodies in his works.
"My art - about politics and society. After the Second World Japan still can not find themselves, their national idea. Hence the prolonged depression, lack of heroes and ideals, "- said Murakami.
In general, the vast majority of phallic themes of the artist must find a political subtext: kind of a Japanese symptomatology, wrapped in an American pop art.
Pop art came in his childhood, together with the American occupation troops quartered in Japan since 1945. Accessibility, clarity, simplicity of design of U.S. household items - whether it is a pack of cigarettes or sung by Andy Warhol soup bank, "Campbell" - were the first to pioneer the future of fetishes Japanese pop culture.
"Each of my work is inspired by the American abstract art, which captured my imagination was still in college. I am a child of occupation, and American pop culture has been part of my childhood. Pop-culture exists in order to convey his complex ideas in an understandable form, to make the complex simple "- said Murakami.
Between a cowboy and samurai
The artist finally explained what is the name of his favorite hero - DOB (DOB), which is a canvas and "cartoons" jumped on clothes Gucci handbags and Louis Vitton. This is not popular in the United States stands for, meaning the date of birth (Date of birth), and consonant with the Japanese word "joke".
Murakami and joking and it only works for inspiration.
I sometimes for weeks or months can not do anything. Then, like flashes in the head with an idea - and then I could not tear myself away from work - told the artist. First, he prepares computer-aided design. This, he said, occurs rapidly, and the execution plan on the canvas takes months.
Despite his passion for American pop art, Murakami apparently bears little resemblance to the representatives of the American avant-garde.
Only when Murakami was talking about his work, his movements are beginning to resemble a funeral passes. He is dressed in outrageous without any conservative black jacket, white shirt, and on his feet - coarse black shoes for the New York rainy autumn. But decorated in a bunch at the back hair and a mustache with a small beard reminiscent of the tradition of the samurai. On the question, whether consciously chosen image of samurai and whether it is an internal search for an artist, Murakami embarrassed.
"Yes ... I do not know ... I hope "- he said.
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