I went to the new Murakami art exhibit at the Geffen museum last night and was utterly impressed. The speaker at the cocktail reception likened Murakami to a Japanese Andy Warhol and after spending a good hour amongst his works, I am inclined to agree. Subverting the hyper-active, relentlessly bright and cherry style of contemporary Anime and Manga, Murakami both celebrates the style, and mocks it's relentless cheer and lack of depth-both metaphorical and literal. My favorite piece was called "super-nova" which referenced Japanese culture's fascination with the mushroom (Super Mario Bros anyone?) and, more disturbingly, the long shadow of the Hiroshima mushroom cloud. The show is currently in Los Angeles but is touring to Brooklyn and then to Spain. I highly recommend you check it out if you are at all a fan of pop art.
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