Murakami Retrospective Charity Ball at the Brooklyn Museum
Last Thursday Louis Vuitton officially revealed its new design; ‘monogramouflage’ created in collaboration between Takashi Murakami, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.
At the Nobu-catered dinner of tuna martinis and miso fillet of beef followed by a cocktail hour, art stars, fashionistas and music fans partied under one roof Thursday night at the Brooklyn Museum to celebrate the opening of “© Murakami,” a comprehensive retrospective of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
The retrospective features work that draws from street culture, high art and traditional Japanese painting, and includes painting, sculpture, installation and animation. Critics have even labeled Murakami “the new Warhol.”
Murakami is widely known for his design for Louis Vuitton bags, which made their entrance into the fashion scene in 2003. Marc Jacobs, artistic director of Louis Vuitton, which sponsored the event, described the opening as a “fantastic collision of fashion, art and music.” Jacobs said of Murakami’s cross-branding style that it is “reminiscent of the old days, where creative people didn’t tay in their box bonded with each other and collaborated with each other.”
The Louis Vuitton products are for sale as part of the largest retrospective of Murakami ever staged; and the products are intended to be an integral part of the exhibition.
Speaking about the inclusion of the Louis Vuitton shop within the exhibition, Takashi Murakami stated, “The shop project is not a part of the exhibition; rather it is the heart of the exhibition itself. It holds at once the aspects that fuse, reunite, and then recombine the concept of the readymade. The Louis Vuitton project brings to life a wonderful new world.” — Via Brooklyn Eagle
Fans of Louis Vuitton will be familiar with Murakami’s cute alien designs from his previous collaborations with the brand. The launch of the Murakami / Louis Vuitton exhibition in Brooklyn last night ‘celebrated’ fake Louis Vuitton products as a way of drawing attention to the problem of counterfeiting; an issue, which according to the Ethical Corporation has exploded by 10,000% in the past two decades.
Outside the museum, Vuitton set up 10 New York-style street vendors — not to sell fakes, but rather authentic Louis Vuitton product and special Monogramouflage canvases that Murakami has created specifically for the exhibition
While it may seem lighthearted on the surface, the presentation is meant to underscore just how serious Vuitton executives are taking the counterfeit trade, and how diligently they are working to stop copycats from getting their merchandise to consumers. — Via WWD
Murakami has further been recognized for his collaborations with Kanye West, tapped Murakami to design the album cover for his latest record, Graduation. The colorful, pastel imagery captures Murakami’s fascination with anime and manga (comic books).
To top off the night, Kanye took the stage under a giant screen emblazoned with Murakami art. And, as the artist himself watched from the crowd, West blazed through a six-song set of his biggest hits — including “Flashing Lights,” “Good Morning” and “The Good Life” to guests that included Kristen Davis, Tinsley Mortimer, and Julian Shnabel . Via MTV news
More information: Murakami Exhibit
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