As of February 8, an incredible 200,000 people have seen “Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats,” which opened on October 31.
The show is actually the first major solo exhibition in Japan by Murakami in 14 years, since 2001, and people from all over Japan and elsewhere and all walks of life have been converging on the Mori Art Museum to catch the new work by this internationally-renowned artist.
Takashi Murakami's The 500 Arhats [The White Tiger] (detail), 2012.
Installation view: “Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats,” Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2015
Photo: Takayama Kozo
©2012 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Among those coming to see The 500 Arhats, a work on the themes of art, death and human limits that breaks new creative ground for Takashi Murakami, have been a large number of older people and families, groups which do not usually have much contact with contemporary art, and interest in the work has been growing daily across all demographics.
The 200,000th visitor was Kan Mayu, pictured here with her friend Watanabe Mayu. Ms. Kan told us that she had never heard of Takashi Murakami, but learned of the exhibition from a friend through social media, liked Murakami's use of color and unconventional worldview, and decided to come along and take a look for herself.
Photo: Mikuriya Shinichiro
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
At the entrance to the exhibition, visitors encounter the “Murakami Arhat Robot” and large art objects inspired by four Chinese guardians each bearing celestial directions and taken from The 500 Arhats. The chanting Murakami Buddhist saint robot bears an uncanny resemblance to the real Murakami. The objects, based on the four guardians that feature in The 500 Arhats (Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise), have a pop-art look hugely appealing to children, and are proving a favorite photo spot.
Left: A visitor to the exhibition photographing the "Murakami Arhat Robot."
Right: "The Four Guardian Objects" are hugely appealing to young children.
Photo: Mikuriya Shinichiro
©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
There are now just three weeks left to see “Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats,” which may well be the last major solo exhibition of Murakami's work in Japan. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique world of Murakami.
■Relevant Information
・“Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats”
Saturday, October 31, 2015 - Sunday, March 6, 2016
・“Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats” Works of Murakami
（1）The 500 Arhats--“Blue Dragon” and “White Tiger”
（2）The 500 Arhats--“Black Tortoise” and “Vermilion Bird”
（3）Making The 500 Arhats
（4）New painting series
（5）The Birth Cry of a Universe
（6）Mr. DOB, Tan Tan Bo, Gero Tan
