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October 28, 2015
All works, including the monumental "Five Hundred Arhats," spanning 100 meters in length, are exhibited in Japan for the first time | MORI ART MUSEUM
MORI ART MUSEUM | Mori Art Museum
A Monumental Work Spanning 100 Meters, "The Five Hundred Arhats," and All Other Works to Be Shown in Japan for the First Time
Takashi Murakami's "The Five Hundred Arhats" Exhibition, His First Major Solo Show in Japan in 14 Years, Opens
Takashi Murakami, a leading Japanese artist, will hold his first major solo exhibition in Japan in 14 years, "The Five Hundred Arhats," opening at the Mori Art Museum on Saturday, October 31. All works, including the monumental 100-meter-long "The Five Hundred Arhats," will be shown in Japan for the first time. The exhibition runs until Sunday, March 6, 2016.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Talk Sessions with Actor Takumi Saitoh and Other Diverse Events Planned During the Exhibition Period
Takashi Murakami
Murakami has taken the world by storm with his concept of "Superflat," which connects otaku culture and characters with Japanese art history, using post-war Japan as his theme.
His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Palace of Versailles and Rockefeller Center Plaza, and he has collaborated with Louis Vuitton, making him an indispensable artist in contemporary art.
This exhibition marks his first solo show in Japan in 14 years. The 100-meter-long "The Five Hundred Arhats" (pictured above), created in gratitude to Qatar for its swift support in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and first exhibited in Doha in 2012, will also be unveiled in Japan for the first time.
This work, depicting 500 disciples spreading the teachings of Buddha, is said to extinguish worldly desires and save all beings, and is a traditional theme that has been depicted by Edo-period painters such as Rosetsu Nagasawa (1754-1799) and Kano Ishin (1816-1863). Murakami assembled a team of 200 staff from Japanese art universities to complete this massive painting in a short period. In addition, all other works, from large-scale sculptures to the latest pieces from his signature series, will be shown in Japan for the first time.
(Left) Takashi Murakami, "The Five Hundred Arhats" (detail), 2012, Private Collection. Exhibition view: "Murakami - Ego," Al Riwaq Exhibition Hall, Doha, 2012. Photo: GION ©2012 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. / (Right) Takashi Murakami, "Birth of the Universe," in progress. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, New York. ©2015 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
During the exhibition, there will be talk sessions with animation director Yosiyuki Tomino, known for "Mobile Suit Gundam," and a special screening of Murakami's directorial debut film,Jellyfish Eyes"Mememe no Kurage," which was released in 2013, followed by a talk session with actor Takumi Saitoh, who appeared in the film (reservations are now closed).
Takashi Murakami has consistently challenged the concept of art, generating significant buzz with each new release. This exhibition promises to be no exception, with his works poised to astound us once again.
"Takashi Murakami's The Five Hundred Arhats Exhibition"
Exhibition Dates | Saturday, October 31 - Sunday, March 6, 2016
Hours | 10:00 - 22:00 (Open until 17:00 on Tuesdays, except for Tuesday, November 3, when it is open until 22:00)
Venue | Mori Art Museum
53F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Admission | Adults: ¥1600, Students (High School/University): ¥1100, Children (Ages 4 to Junior High School): ¥600
Inquiries
Mori Art Museum
Tel. 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)
http://www.mori.art.museum