Takashi Murakami: In the studio

I'm always fascinated by the processes that artists employ to come up with their creations, especially when they are produced at the frequency with which Takashi Murakami churns his out. It's more a production line than an artist's studio. But the art remains compelling, which is the point, really. 

Murakami: skulls and flowers

Takashi Murakami's exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in Hong Kong opens today. Don't worry if you can't get there straight away - it's on until February 9. It's called Flowers & Skulls, and features skulls and flowers.  Darkness and light. Yin and Yang. That sort of thing of you want to get all deep about it. 

Gagosian Gallery
7/F, Pedder Building | Map
12 Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong

Takashi Murakami: homage to Yves Klein

I do like a bit of Takashi Murakami it must be said. All that 'real flat' stuff that's become his trademark.

Now he's bucked his trend with this homage to the post-war European artist, Yves Klein, who was known for leading the Nouveau réalisme movement. None of your real flat here, there's more texture than an anaglypta wall.

You could say it has depth.

Takashi Murakami: close-up at the Gagosian

That Murakami exhibition is ongoing at the Gagosian in West London until August 5, and if like me you have yet to visit, here are a few more images of Manga girls with inflated appendages to help you make your mind up. But it isn't all Japanese erotica. There are cartoon skulls as well.

Murakami at the Gagosian: knockers before entering

Here's an eyeful of the new Takashi Murakami exhibition at the Gagosian in London, which runs until August 5.

Of course there will be more on offer than cute manga looking girls with massive tits, but what more do you really need to know about? A square headed kid? OK there's one of them too.

Banksy: At it again

At the other end of the art spectrum from the extravagance of Murakami is Banksy.

None of your Palace of Versailles here - instead he chooses pretty average urban walls which need a bit of a perking up with a few observations on the hypocrisy of life.

Seeing as he's in the middle of some sort of multicolour spraypaint comedy battle with another graffiti bloke called King Robbo right now, you can expect these pieces to last about as long as it takes Robbo to find them.

Maybe that's the significance of the egg timer in the one above. Maybe it's something completely different.

Whatever, it's a good job someone took some pictures of them

Murakami at Château de Versailles: Manga goes Baroque

I can kind of understand the controversey Murakami's exhibition at the Château de Versailles is causing. It's hardly as if his art fits in with all the Baroque stuff you would usually find at this French monument of excess.

But when I think about it there is a certain thread. The cultures might be centuries as well as continents apart, but they do share a common theme of shiny oppulence.

All the same I might be a bit put off myself if I turned up to find a 20ft gold cartoon character spoiling the vista.

Not to mention the giant gobstopper in the hallway.

King Louis would turn in his grave.
Via Coolhunting

Loius Vuitton Maison: Do it for the Murakami

I went into a Louis Vuitton store in Barcelona, as you do. Negotiated past a few tourists buying handbags, did a lap of the menswear section, noted that it was more euro-bling than ever, and legged it.

I can't say that experience left me gagging for the opening of the Louis Vuitton Maison in New Bond Street, but I might poke my head in all the same, just so I can get a closer look at that Murakami sculpture.

Beats a pair of dodgy monogrammed trainers for a reason to visit all day long.

More images of the star-studded opening night over at EMM.

Louis Vuitton: Journey of a man's wardrobe

I love this image - this is the sort of thing they ought to be making a scarf out of rather than those smily flowers that Murakami has just come up with. Something for the fellas.

This actually has something to do with a project between Louis Vuitton and The Selby, called Journey of a Man's wardrobe, with the journey, having left Paris, moving on to Shanghai and Tokyo.

Maybe it's taking the route of manufacture backwards. Let's hope it doesn't end up in China, or Taiwan. That wouldn't do LV much good at all.

Loving the map though.

View the project here

Murakami's scarf is below