Though his time on the stage was brief, Takashi Murakami was everything the capacity crowd imagined him to be. “Enjoy yourselves tonight,” he told the expectant audience. “I will be going back to my hotel to sleep!”
The 62-year-old was in Singapore last November to launch his latest collaboration with Hublot—the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire limited edition with central flying tourbillon—and was given a rock star’s reception. Hublot aficionados, watch enthusiasts and celebrities turned up in force to see Murakami and the watch. Their roar of laughter and applause at Murakami’s candour was testament to the effect the contemporary pop artist and his works have on his audience; unbridled joy at experiencing something that is honest and adorable all at once.
Looking like an animated character himself, Murakami, with his round-framed glasses and trademark faux-surprise pose, exudes child-like generosity and charm-not unlike the colourful anime-style motifs he lavishes on his works. Though formally trained in traditional Japanese painting, Murakami pioneered the postmodern art movement Superflat in 2001, which combines two-dimensional art, traditional Japanese art, manga and anime. Among his most famous creations is the 'smiling flower', which he designed in 1995 and has appeared on album covers, music videos, fashion accessories and, since 2021, on highly exclusive Murakami-designed limited-edition watches.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BREAKING DOWN WALLS
Georgina Atkinson, managing partner of Origin Private Office, on the evolving landscape of high-end real estate.
Aged Gracefully
The Benromach 50 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is a delicious single malt, touched by love, passion and the human hand.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
Small-scale Thinking
Architect Todd Saunders wants to change the way we approach hospitality design from the ground up.
Todd Snyder Is Exactly Where He Wants To Be
\"Our whole goal is to present product in a way that guys get it and understand it, versus 'Here's some crazy aspirational brand-you go figure it out on your own'.\"
Depp Dive Into Sauvage
Johnny Depp on music, scents and the mystique of creativity.
Time For Poetry
Pascal Raffy on his love affair with the 202-year-old house of Bovet.
One of a Kind
The incomparable Lange 1 turns 30 this year and A. Lange & Söhne marks the occasion with its trademark understatement.
P For Personality
Enhance your swing, and inject your personal style while you're at it, with TaylorMade's new P-770 and P-7CB irons.
The Short-hop-adventure-craft Category Takes Off
Inside the flight deck of Pivotal's Blackfly eVTOL, an ultra-smart ultra-light with eight propellers, electric propulsion and no pilot's licence required.