Kyoto Enso

2018

Takashi Murakami (b 1962) is a renowned Japanese artist who uses pop culture, traditional Japanese painting nihonga and anime in his art. Murakami has a signature style that is colourful and two-dimensional, it is described as a “superflat” aesthetic. His famous characters include the smiling flower and Mr. DOB, who is a Mickey Mouse inspired character. Virgil Abloh (1980-2021) was an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He worked both with his friend Kanye West and Louis Vuitton, being a creative director for the men’s wear collection since 2018 for the latter. In 2012 Abloh established a luxury brand named Off-White, whose logo has been used in the collaborative work of the artists. The artists met around 2008 and they have made collaborative projects which have affected both the art and fashion world. Both artworks in PoCo museum “Hollow Man” and “Kyoto Enso” were made for the 2018 exhibition in Gagosian gallery London. The artists kept in mind the specific gallery as they were preparing for the exhibition as they wanted their creation to relate to what’s going on in the street. Therefore, looking through the gallery windows one was able to see both paintings and sculptures, which were related to each other.

Takashi Murakami (s 1962) on tunnustatud Jaapani kunstnik, kes kasutab oma loomingus popkultuuri, Jaapani traditsioonilist nihonga-maali ja animet. Murakami signatuurstiil on erksate värvide ja kahemõõtmelisuse kasutamine, tema esteetika on tuntud kui “superflat”. Tema kuulsate tegelaste hulka kuuluvad nii naeratavad lilled kui ka Mr. DOB, kes on inspireeritud Miki Hiirest. Virgil Abloh (1980-2021) oli Ameerika moekunstnik ja ettevõtja. Ta töötas nii koos oma sõbra Kanye Westiga kui ka Louis Vuittoni heaks, olles viimase meestekollektsiooni kunstiline juht alates 2018. aastast. 2012. aastal asutas Abloh luksusbrändi nimega Off-White, mille logo on kasutatud ka kunstnike ühisloomingu puhul. Kunstnikud said tuttavaks 2008. aasta paiku ning nad on teinud koostööprojekte, mis on mõjutanud nii kunsti- kui moemaailma. Mõlemad PoCo kollektsioonis olevad teosed “Hollow Man” ja “Kyoto Enso” valmisid 2018 näituse jaoks Gagosiani galeriis Londonis. Kunstnikud pidasid näitust ette valmistades silmas konkreetset galeriid ning kunstnike soov oli, et nende looming suhestuks sellega, mis toimub tänaval. Seega tänavalt galerii akendesse vaadates oli näha nii maale kui ka skulptuure, mis olid omavahel seotud.