Opening at APMA on the First Floor of Amorepacific Headquarters
First Korean Exhibition in Two Years Since 2023 Busan Show
Spotlight on the Flower Motif
The solo exhibition "Seoul, Cute Summer Vacation" by artist Takashi Murakami, well-known for his "brightly smiling flower" imagery, will open on September 2 at the project space APMA on the first floor of Amorepacific headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. This marks his first exhibition in Korea since the retrospective held at the Busan Museum of Art in 2023.
The exhibition delves deeply into the flower motif, which has consistently appeared throughout the artist's body of work, using a variety of materials, techniques, and formats. The iconic "brightly smiling flower" image was inspired by "Nihonga," a traditional Japanese painting style that emphasizes the depiction of natural forms. First introduced in 1995, this motif is closely linked to the "Superflat" aesthetic, which fuses traditional techniques, popular imagery, visual elements borrowed from animation and manga, otaku culture, and the sensibility of "kawaii" (cuteness) on a flat surface.
The artist, who has long depicted the world from a "flat" perspective, explained that with the advent of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, he "feels the aspects of a 'flat society' even more strongly, as the knowledge held by each person is being leveled out by AI."
The work "Tachiaoi-zu" (2025) is an homage to Ogata Korin (1658-1716) and his folding screen painting "Chrysanthemum Screen," which depicts red, pink, and white hollyhocks on a gold leaf background. Murakami explained, "Several years ago, a shogun drama set in the Edo period was aired, and this piece was created from the perspective of that era." He added, "Gold leaf was a technique frequently used in Japanese art history. In 17th-century Kyoto, many houses hung such paintings to reflect candlelight and brighten interiors, as the houses lacked natural lighting."
The two works titled "Hello Flowerian" (2024) each feature small, flower-faced figures adorned with vivid rainbow colors and gold leaf finishes, respectively. While the surface atmosphere is as bright as other works in the exhibition, they also embody the economic, social, and psychological uncertainties experienced by postwar Japan.
On the 1st, at the project space APMA on the first floor of Amorepacific headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, artist Takashi Murakami is speaking while wearing a brightly smiling flower image hat at his solo exhibition "Seoul, Cute Summer Vacation." Photo by Seo Mideum
The artist is actively collaborating with both domestic and international hip-hop artists and luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton. In Korea, he has attracted attention through collaborations with G-Dragon of Big Bang, Blackpink, and NewJeans. When asked about the possibility of further collaborations, he replied that he is always open, joking, "In fact, I would like to ask them (Korea's famous idols) why they chose me," with a smile. The exhibition will run until October 11.
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