For those curious about the Takashi Murakami exhibition at the Qatar Museum that opened today, which included a large inflatable replica of the artist, here are some photos for you. With these shots, you can see more clearly the vision for this showing that the renowned Japanese artist had. Murakami – Ego includes paintings, videos, sculptural pieces that spanned his career as well as some new pieces.

More photos from Tetsuya Suzuki after the jump…

Photos by Tetsuya Suzuki via Slamxhype.
Discuss this show here. Discuss Takashi Murakami here.

It looks like Vhils (filmed) has been putting in work in Shanghai as he prepares for his show opening on March 31st at 18 Gallery (presented by Magda Danysz). Like JR before him, he’ll be introducing some of that European street aesthetic to the Chinese port city. Expect more photos to pop up soon as he has over a month to do some more damage to local walls.

Another piece after the jump…

Photo via CreativeHunt.

Via Nuart.
Discuss Vhils here.

Discuss Scott Campbell here.

Yayoi Kusama

AM was at Tate Modern on Tuesday to visit the major retrospective by Yayoi Kusama, whose separate show at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art we recently covered. The London exhibition is spread over fourteen rooms and features a selection of works — drawing, painting, collage, film, sculpture and installation — spanning a period of six decades. Tate Modern director Chris Dercon was on hand to introduce the show and curator Frances Morris followed up with a guided tour. Their enthusiasm was certainly infectious. The artist herself made a big entrance during the preview. It was her first trip to the UK in twelve years, and for the occasion she donned a bright orange-red wig and matching kimono-like dress with white polka dots. If we ever make it past 80, that’s exactly what we plan to wear.

The Kusama retrospective opens on 9 February and continues until 5 June 2012. See more images and commentary after the jump.

'Dots Obsession'. 2009/2012. Balloons, vinyl stickers

'Lingering Dream'. 1949. Pigment on paper

Infinity Net paintngs

'Pacific Ocean'. 1960. Oil on canvas

'Pacific Ocean' (detail)

In our head, we had previously dismissed Kusama as “the one who does all those damn pumpkins”. After seeing the retrospective, however, we now concede that statement needs to be seriously qualified. The exhibition is strong and refreshingly diverse. It also happens to be pumpkin-free. Highlights for us were the Infinity Net paintings (Room 3) and a darkened room with domestic furnishings covered in fluorescent sticker spots, called I’m Here, but Nothing (Room 12). The exhibition finale is Infinity Mirrored Room – Filled with the Brilliance of Life (Room 14), a magical and disorienting walk-through, immersive environment consisting of reflective surfaces (mirrors and water) and LED bulbs constantly changing in colour.

We were pleased to hear that an Obliteration Room will also be opened at Tate Modern (McAulay Gallery, Level 1) from 9 February until 18 March. It’s the first version of this interactive project to be shown outside of Australia. Children and their families will be invited to transform an entirely white installation furnished as a living room into a colourful space filled with thousands of spot stickers. Having been wowed by photos taken at GoMA in Brisbane (covered here), we’re really looking forward to seeing the results of the London version in person.

Accumulation sculptures. 1962 - 1966

'The Man'. 1963. Sewn stuffed fabric, kettle, found objects, canvas, wood, paint

'Aggregation: One Thousand Boats Show'. 1963. Rowboat and oars covered by plaster castings in white cotton, a pair of women's shoes and 999 black and white offset posters on paper

'Self-Obliteration'. 1967. Ink on photograph

Left to right: 'The Clouds'. 1984. Sewn stuffed fabric, paint; 'Revived Soul'. 1995. Acrylic on canvas

'Flame' (detail)

'Yellow Trees'. 1994. Acrylic on canvas

'Yellow Trees' (detail)

'I'm Here, but Nothing'. 2000/2012. Vinyl stickers, ultraviolet fluorescent lights, furniture, household objects

Recent paintings from 2009 and 2010

'Infinity Mirrored Room - Filled with the Brilliance of Life'. 2011. Wood, mirror, plastic, acrylic, LED lights, aluminium

Although the AM default setting is generally to root for the underdogs, we can’t help bringing out the pompons and playing cheerleader for the powerhouse that is Tate Modern. The curation at the museum never seems to miss a step. Over just the last two years, notable exhibitions have been put on for the likes of Francis Alÿs, Gauguin, Ai Weiwei, Gabriel Orozco, Miró, and most recently, Gerhard Richter, whose remarkable retrospective closed last month.

Portrait of Kusama kindly provided by Happy Famous Artists. Text and other photographs by Patrick Nguyen.

Opening this Saturday, February 11th, Culver City showspace Corey Helford Gallery welcomes back SHAG (2009) for his newest solo show entitled Animal Kingdom. Coinciding thematically with the current exhibition at the gallery from Eric Joyner (covered), SHAG’s latest paintings incorporate his retro-chic characters in animal costumes as well as interacting with their furry friends.

More preview images after the jump…

Discuss this show here.
Discuss SHAG here.

Sue Tilley, whom Lucian Freud painted in Benefits Supervisor Sleeping (left) poses for photographs.

A comprehensive new exhibition featuring the late Lucian Freud at the National Portrait Gallery in London will be opening February 9th to the public. Perhaps one the the most influential painters of his generation, Freud’s specialty was his focus on portraiture with an uncanny ability to depict the psychological tensions in each sitting as well as his techniques straddling the dichotomy of rawness and fragility in his strokes. Spanning over seven decades of work and including over 100 works from museums and private collections throughout the world, this is certainly one showing that should not be missed, even for the casual fan.

Several more preview photos and images after the jump…

Via The Guardian.

Last year, Garage Magazine made a splash with its inaugural issue featuring a butterfly labia tattoo designed by Damien Hirst. For its second issue that hits the stands on February 20th, editor Dasha Zhukova took a subtler approach with a Norman Rockwell-esque style that may remind readers of the Saturday Evening Post. Upon closer look, one will observe a more subtle re-work based on Yayoi Kusama’s staged happening entitled Homosexual Wedding. Also included in this issue are articles on artists such as Clare Rojas, Adrian Varejao, Mat Collishaw, and more.

Discuss Yayoi Kusama here.

Image of a gift from Choe to Howard Stern. Photo via Upper Playground.

In the insanity and aftermath of news breaking that David Choe (featured) stands to make $100-200 million dollars on the upcoming Facebook IPO, all the major network shows were attempting to book him for an interview. His first choice as a longtime fan was of course to be interviewed by Howard Stern (which makes sense if you know David’s lifestyle and humor).  You can see a video clip as well as audio clips of the entire interview after the jump where no topic was left untouched which ended with Stern adopting the artist as his son and where it sounds like David revealed that he might be worth even more than what people originally thought.

Discuss David Choe here.

Rostarr

Opening tonight in New York is a special group show put together by the Museum of Sex. This provocative showing features 20 street artists including Mode2, Aiko, Rostarr, Miss Van, and Lush as they occupy the building with works that further push the boundaries of their viewpoints of sexuality and relationships (some more subtle than others). Attendees will be greeted by the 14-foot FUCK BIKE by Andrew Shirley & William Thomas in the Fifth Avenue lobby entrance.

See the bike and more NSFW preview shots after the jump…

Mode2

F*CK BIKE #001, by Andrew H. Shirley and William Thomas Porter

Lush. Photo via Mercyful Fate.

Discuss this show here.

More pictures after the jump…

Tara McPherson

Aiko

Deedee Cheriel

Lindsey Way

Photo credit: ©Carlos Gonzalez for Arrested Motion.
Discuss this show here.