CLEVELAND (AP) — Renowned Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is known for his versatility across multiple artistic mediums, including paintings, sculptures, and collaborations with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, along with creating album covers and a unique merchandising collection with Major League Baseball. His latest exhibit, titled "Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow," opens on Sunday at the Cleveland Museum of Art, showcasing over 100 diverse works.
The exhibit features Murakami’s signature smiling rainbow-colored flower icon, where he intentionally fuses light-hearted themes with historical events that carry deep emotional weight. Murakami elaborated on how his art delves into the effects of trauma on individuals and society, a sentiment echoed by Ed Schad, curator and publications manager at The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles. Schad describes the portraits in the exhibit as "rooted in history," offering insights into societal health and its responses to trauma.
One striking sculpture in the exhibit, titled "Pom and Me," illustrates Murakami alongside his dog, with half of their bodies represented anatomically, showing bones and organs, while the other half showcases their external appearances. This piece reflects Murakami’s interpretation of his experiences in the West, viewed through the lens of his Japanese heritage.
The exhibition features vibrant square portraits that depict cartoon-like flowers with varying facial expressions, arranged by background color to create a rainbow effect. Among these, one flower is seen wiping a tear away, while another embodies a zombie, one has blood dripping from its mouth, and yet another stands in awe watching fireworks. Although there aren't direct visual references to historical events, the museum indicates that the artworks can be contextualized by pivotal moments in Japanese history, such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami leading to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Murakami highlighted a common misconception regarding the accessibility of his art, stating, "It's a bit of a misunderstanding that my work is very easy and very popular," attributing this perception to what he refers to as one of his artistic "tricks." He believes that the appreciation of his art often shifts from childhood to adulthood, where deeper meanings may surface over time.
Before guests enter the main exhibit on the museum's lower floor, they have the opportunity to pass through a replica of the Yumedono, an octagonal-shaped building from the Horyuji Temple in Nara, Japan. This structure was inspired by Murakami's viewing of the 2024 television series "Shogun." Within this recreated space are four new paintings: "Blue Dragon Kyoto," "Vermillion Bird Kyoto," "White Tiger Kyoto," and "Black Tortoise Kyoto," all created between 2023 and 2025.
The ticketed exhibit will run until early September, inviting visitors to engage with Murakami's exploration of trauma, identity, and society through his vibrant and poignant artistic style.
