Contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami’s Superflat aesthetics has held a powerful allure for the fashion industry, Hip Hop music and Generation Z popstars. You have probably heard, a long time ago, about the term “Superflat” connected to the Japanese superstar, entrepreneur and worldwide famous artist Takashi Murakami (Born in Tokyo in 1962).
If you haven’t, no fear. Your curiosity will be satisfied. Superflat is a postmodern art movement with an easily recognisable glossy and cartoonish visual aesthetic that combine manga and anime, the cute and the eerie patina, psychedelic culture and traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique.
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Let yourself be hypnotized by 1993 Mr DOB character, Murakami’s iconic figure and alter ego, and try not to think about Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. The Superflat mood has rapidly colonized the fashion industry, but not only. As a consequence of a collaboration with Louis Vuitton, Mr Murakami reinterpreted the french luxury brand’s famous logo in 2013, from Cherry Blossom bags to stylish Throw Pillow. Subsequently, the creation of an eclectic collection under Van’s premium label named Vault, allowed Murakami to encapsulate in his favourite shoes, the Classic Slip-On, both the skull motif and the smiling flower print in blue.
The flower is undoubtedly a big hit. Feast your eyes on OVO’s Collection hoodies. Murakami’s latest partnership with Uniqlo’s Graphic T-Shirt Collection is centred around flowers, of course, and Doreamon, a cat-like robot of the 22nd century. Also, Hip Hop Music’s been a matter of Superflat. Murakami’s adorable and weird teddy bear was on the cover of Graduation, the 2007 Kanye West’s album. A planetarium success - among the top five covers of the year for the Rolling Stones Magazine - which shows Dropout Bear, American rapper’s mascot and trademark, launched into space by a cannon, marking a departure from West’s soul-oriented sound to a more introspective and elaborate style. In 2018, Murakami would also design the refined cover art for West’s brilliant Kids See Ghosts. Neither Pop music has been excluded from Superflat’s area of influence. His tentacles have reached out to the young pop star Billie Eilish (2001) for whom Murakami has packaged an animated short film, You should see me in a crown, full of his eccentric flowers, demons and spirits. Takashi Murakami’s tribe has spread all over.
Written by Petra Chiodi
Cover images: Uniqlo Doraemon: Takashi Murakami x Doraemon © 2017 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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