Sakura & Panda 2020

Takashi Murakami created this work, “Sakura & Panda”, as a commentary on contemporary Japanese culture. Murakami draws on Japan’s history of ukiyo-e prints and manga to make his art. This particular image is an example of his signature style, ‘Superflat’, which is characterized by flattened forms, bright colors, and a blend of high and low culture. The panda, a symbol of cuteness or ‘kawaii’, is placed against a background of sakura, cherry blossoms, which have a strong association with traditional Japanese art and culture. The smiling flowers, a recurring motif in Murakami’s work, reflect both a sense of optimism and a critical view of consumer culture. To understand Murakami’s art, we need to consider the history of art institutions in Japan, and their relation to the global art market. Researching his manifestos and his curatorial projects sheds light on his position in the art world and his complex negotiation of Japanese identity.