Takashi Murakami at the Château de Versailles
On the surface, pop creations from the worlds of Anime and Manga have little to do with the regal splendor of Versailles. However, as his new retrospective at the château proves, artist Takashi Murakami's Japanese take on comic strip cool can strike up remarkably easy conversation with a 17th century setting.
Murakami's show follows American artist Jeff Koon's acclaimed exhibition at Versailles in 2008. As well as featuring 22 of his major works, dotted around the chateau and its gardens are 11 new pieces created especially for the exhibition.
With his Superflat style - characterized by flat planes of colour and strong graphics - these oversized, surrealist sculptures draw on the fantasy of the setting, assembled with typical Japanese precision.
'It is likely that the Versailles of my imagination is one that my mind has exaggerated and transformed until it has become a kind of surreal world of its own,' says Murakami. 'It is this that I have tried to capture in this exhibition.'
The decision to show contemporary artworks at this national site may have been a controversial one, but by harnessing his own impression of Versailles, Murakami's work reflects and plays with its surrounds with surprising fluidity - helped by its glossy surfaces and abundance of ornamentation.
ADDRESS
Château de Versailles
Spectacles Pavillon des Roulettes
Grille du Dragon
78000 Versailles
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Find yourself at Six Senses Kyoto, the brand's breathtaking Japan debut
Six Senses Kyoto opens its doors boasting tranquil, luxurious interiors by Blink Design Group
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House
'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Artist Mickalene Thomas wrestles with notions of Black beauty, female empowerment and love
'Mickalene Thomas: All About Love’, a touring exhibition, considers Black female representation
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Takashi Murakami on his monsterizing San Francisco show
Takashi Murakami tells us of pandemic-inspired creatures, eye-popping flowers, and NFTs as he explains the making of his exhibition at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco
By Pei-Ru Keh Published
-
Takashi Murakami and Ryan Murphy headline Wallpaper* November 2023
In the Wallpaper* November 2023 Art Special, discover Takashi Murakami’s pandemic-inspired creatures, producer Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood HQ, 20 years of Frieze and more, on newsstands today
By Sarah Douglas Published
-
Takashi Murakami’s Dubai debut pops with colour, nostalgia and darker undertones
Nadine Khalil interviews Takashi Murakami ahead of his first exhibition in the UAE, at Perrotin’s ICD Brookfield pop-up space, as the gallery also launches its first permanent Middle Eastern outpost
By Nadine Khalil Published
-
Takashi Murakami goes for gold in immersive Hong Kong show
From monumental sculptures to floral fantasies, step into the Japanese art star’s hypersaturated universe at Tai Kwun Contemporary
By Catherine Shaw Last updated
-
Birthday buzz and secret messages at Takashi Murakami retrospective
By Hadani Ditmars Published
-
Man at work: rigour, neurochemicals and 24/7 assistants at Takashi Murakami’s studio
By Jens H Jensen Last updated
-
Pot luck: Takashi Murakami’s vast ceramics collection goes on display in Japan
By Charlotte Jansen Last updated
-
Looking back: two new shows reveal different sides of Takashi Murakami
By Catherine Shaw Published