MFA Publications, Boston, 2018 | Hardcover, 208pp | 22.5 × 26.5 cm | First Edition
Published in conjunction with the landmark exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this richly illustrated volume positions Takashi Murakami within a broader lineage of Japanese artistic production, tracing connections from Edo-period painting to contemporary Superflat aesthetics. Created in collaboration with art historian Nobuo Tsuji, the book reframes Murakami’s practice not as an isolated phenomenon but as part of a continuous, eccentric visual tradition.
Lavishly produced, the book features full-colour reproductions, fold-out elements, and immersive spreads that juxtapose Murakami’s hyper-saturated, pop-inflected imagery with historical works. Essays and texts by Anne Nishimura Morse and others explore themes of eccentricity, religiosity, play, and ornament, offering both scholarly context and visual spectacle. A substantial catalogue section and conversation between Murakami and Tsuji deepen the critical framework.
A key reference for understanding Murakami’s position within global contemporary art and Japanese art history, as well as a visually striking object in its own right.
Printed hardcovers featuring Murakami’s Lots, Lots of Kaikai and Kiki. Silver endapers. Publisher’s original pictorial dust jacket. Designed by Goto Gesign. Printed and bound in Italy.
Excellent condition: Unread copy, internally pristine - clean, crisp and tightly bound. Light wear to jacket, mainly along the top edge.
