Takashi Murakami’s work at the Qatar Museum cannot be missed! Literally, you can’t walk through the front door without glancing up at the 20-foot tall inflatable sculpture that greets you at the entrance. Murakami–Ego is a collection of the artist’s work dating back from 1997 through today. The pieces have been arriving in Qatar for the past three months from all over the world and can be viewed at the Qatar Museum until June 24, 2012.
Murakami’s main motivation in creating his work is to inspire a cultural understanding of Japan and to promote Japanese culture throughout the world. As an otaku, or anime fanatic, Murakami has included both flat paintings and 3D sculptural pieces in the form of colorful cartoons and reference to Japanese pop culture throughout the exhibit. Two works that have never before been seen in their entirety are featured in the show—Kaikai Kiki Lots of Faces and Pom and Me. “The force behind Takashi Murakami’s work is, ‘To become a living example of the potential of art.’”
Takashi Murakami: Website
Qatar Museum: Website
via [Arrested Motion, Designboom]
All images via Gion and Chika Okazumi.