ArrestedMotion logo
Tag Archives: Kaikai Kiki

Showing: Austin Lee – “Serious Works” @ Kaikai Kiki Gallery

On March 3rd, Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Motoazabu, Tokyo, opened a debut Japan solo exhibition by American artist Austin Lee. Serious Works is sort of a parody title for a show that consists of paintings and sculptures done in Lee’s colorful, naive style. For this showcase, the NYC-based artist created an extensive installation within the gallery space. His large animal mural and chess board floor pattern make an eclectic environment in which his playful and poppy imagery feels at home and well presented. His sculptural piece titled Duo, a bubble gum-like […]

Art HK ’12: Rei Sato – “All Monsters Hold Secrets in Their Grasp” @ Kaikai Kiki

Another booth we spent time at during Art HK was the one stocked by Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki gallery. Their booth held a solo feature for Rei Sato and her latest body of work entitled All Monsters Hold Secrets in Their Grasp. Much different than the light sculptural installation which we saw her create for the Guggenheim’s Peter & The Wolf, Rei this time showcases her signature works which feature photographs expanded on canvas, which are then painted on. As sort of an artwork on top of […]

Openings: Christie’s x Murakami – “Tohoku-Pacific Earthquake Benefit” Auction @ Gagosian

We recently broke news of a special benefit auction, New Day, created by  Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Co. & Christie’s to help the victims of the tragic Tohoku-Pacific Earthquake. Last week, AM stopped by to catch the special viewing of the fresh works from many stars of the contemporary art scene. Held at the Gagosian Gallery Madison avenue location, works from artists such as Zeng Fanzhi, Mark Grotjahn, Damien Hirst, Thomas Houseago, KAWS, Jeff Koons, Friedrich Kunath, Mr., Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Gabriel Orozco, Anselm Reyle, Cindy Sherman, Aya […]

Openings: “TRANSFORM” @ Sho Gallery

AM recently attended a great show at the Sho Gallery in Brooklyn. The group exhibition entitled TRANSFORM showcased the paintings and sculptures of 30 artists that work for or have worked at Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Studios. Although this show was not in anyway affiliated with the studio, it certainly impressed with the overwhelming talent that this influential studio possess. Artists such as Tat Ito (featured), Pete Watts (featured), Fumi Nakamura, Cybele, Matt Haber and Eugenia Yu gave us a glimpse at their off-hours talent in […]

Openings: Rei Sato – Peter & The Wolf Installation for Works & Process @ Guggenheim

On Saturday afternoon, AM was invited to attend the opening for “Works & Process” at the Guggenheim Museum. The annual production of Sergei Prokofiev’s children’s classic Peter & The Wolf has become a local holiday tradition that brings together some of the brightest artistic talents to create an unforgettable production that weaves art, music and performance into one. The vaunted collaboration brought together NYC Opera’s musical director George Manahan to conduct the Juilliard Ensemble, while fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi narrated the tale. We were especially interested […]

Todd Selby Visits Mr.’s Studio and Home

Our friends at TWBE let us know about photographer Todd Selby’s latest photo-documentation of artists within their spaces, this time with Mr., one of Takashi Murakami’s protégés. Selby had a chance to photograph the eccentric Japanese artist in his studio and home outside of Tokyo. Obviously, Mr.’s fascination with anime and manga is not contained to his art, as he surrounds himself with illustrated books, posters, and pillows, both at work and at home. In addition, Selby captures other intriguing images, such as production sketches […]

Openings: Aya Takano – “Reintegrating Worlds” @ Skarstedt Gallery

Last Saturday night, Upper East Side’s Skarstedt Gallery hosted the opening of one of the most exciting shows so far this art season – Japanese pop-art star Aya Takano’s “Reintegrating Worlds.” The exhibition, which is Takano’s second solo with the gallery, consists of a brilliant collection of 15 new paintings filled with fantastic scenes of waifish girls and all kinds of animals. Contradictions abound in the work, most importantly in the figures, which are at once sensual and childlike. Among the champagne-sipping, gallery-goers was hip-hop […]

Preview: “Sacred Monsters” @ Tufts University Art Gallery

On September 10, the Tufts University Art Gallery in Medford, MA (Boston) will open its Fall season with a must-see exhibition entitled “Sacred Monsters: Everyday Animism in Contemporary Japanese Art and Anime.” The show examines representations of mythical spirits, gods and other mutant, sentient beings in contemporary Japanese art and film as expressions of animist belief, through fine art and film. Eight emerging and mid-career artists have contributed art work, including friend of AM, Tomokazu “Matzu” Matsuyama (interviewed), and Kaikai Kiki artists Chiho Aoshima and […]

Takashi Murakami’s Geisai 12 Art Fair

AM was excited to have been in attendance for the 12th installment of Takashi Murakami’s self-represented artist art fair, Geisai, held in Tokyo, Sunday March 8. It was quite an experience, with hundreds of young and emerging artists presenting their own paintings, drawings, sculptures or performance art together for one whirlwind day. Plus, there were various live musical and dance performances. Since there was so much going on and our Japanese isn’t that great, we weren’t always sure what was happening, but we took lots […]

Previews: I Know What You’re Thinking @ Sloan Fine Art

Next Wednesday, March 18th, Sloan Fine Art will be opening a new three-person show entitled I Know What You’re Thinking, featuring the work of Seonna Hong (above), Caroline Hwang and Saelee Oh. Seonna Hong is a multi-talented artist working in painting, illustration and animation. She is also the only non-Japanese artist in Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki group. Recently, Hong seems to be bringing her animation background more into her fine art, creating mixed-media works with layers of paper and velum. Brooklyn artist Caroline Hwang creates […]