“Although the works may appear to have a generic graffiti air to them, their surfaces exude MADSAKI’s peculiar brand of sorrow, which I appreciate.”
— Takashi Murakami
Executed in 2016 as a collaborative creation between two of the most prominent figures in Japan’s contemporary art scene, Takashi Murakami and MADSAKI, Untitled (Flower Collaboration with MADSAKI) is a visually striking work that showcases both artist’s signature styles. Emitting an intense dynamism that immerses viewers into a kaleidoscopic realm of black line and pattern, Murakami's globally recognised floral motif undergoes a dramatic reinterpretation as MADSAKI injects his unique aesthetic into the artwork.
For Murakami, who is critically acclaimed as the pioneer of the Superflat art movement, the flower motif harkens back to the artist’s days as a schoolteacher when he would bring fresh flowers to class so that his students could use them as models for their sketches. Subsequently, after years of observing the different types of styles, designs and personalities that came from these drawings, Murakami eventually coined his own.
In Untitled (Flower Collaboration with MADSAKI), the typical joy and light-heartedness of Murakami's art fades, making room for a more unsettling ambiance. His usually smiling blooms now drip black paint down the canvas in rivulets and streams, imbuing the composition with an aura of melancholy and introspection. This shift is due to MADSAKI's innovative use of spray paint, which he wields more like a traditional paintbrush than as more commonly employed in graffiti or street art. Such an approach introduces a greater degree of spontaneous texture, endowing Murakami's flowers with an emotional depth as they appear to weep, enveloping the piece in a darker, more poignant tone. This mood is intensified by the presence of tangled skulls backgrounding the flowers, a recurring element in Murakami's oeuvre since the early 2000s, which adds another layer of compelling complexity to the overall composition.
As MADSAKI’s gritty visuals harmonise seamlessly with Murakami’s polished Superflat style, this juxtaposition demonstrates the potency of blending the distinct approaches of two eminent artists to unlock richer levels of overall interpretation.