Takashi Murakami: The Sleepless Artist

Exploring the artist’s rise from the bottom of the slope to becoming king of the hill. HYPEBEAST [Features]( July 13, 2018 [Takashi Murakami: The Sleepless Artist]( Exploring the artist’s rise from the bottom of the slope to becoming king of the hill. [The Sleepless Artist]( KEITH ESTILER/HYPEBEAST It’s the penultimate day to prepare for Takashi Murakami’s “HEADS⟷HEADS” exhibition and a synchronized team of 70 assistants – one leg of the 300-person army that looks after Murakami’ Kaikai Kiki Gallery — is tirelessly installing works on all three floors of New York City’s Galerie Perrotin. With over a month of preparation in tow, the energy brewing inside the gallery is a mixture of anticipation and forced enthusiasm. Kaikai Kiki’s director of exhibition production, Shinichi Kitahara, brandishes a high-powered laser pointer and directs it at an empty wall. Hands covered in white cotton gloves, three assistants carry one third of a triptych and rest it under Shinichi’s laser target. The trio begins to simultaneously lift a gold leaf painting that will serve as the middle pane of the triptych when a furrow-browed Shinichi pierces the ceremonious art preparation: “turn off the lights.” Now, when I think about it, [reading manga] was kind of an escapism to get away from reality. [The Sleepless Artist]( KEITH ESTILER/HYPEBEAST The rigorous laser-pointing regiment concludes after two hours and the gallery becomes unnervingly quiet. The assistants stow their tools in suitcases and clear out any remaining debris before making their way to the break room; a handful of workers huddle around a kitchen counter while others congregate at a round table downing generous amounts of cup ramen. Clad in black trench coats with matching leather boots, a stone-faced pair of close aides step inside the room and announce that Murakami will arrive in 15 minutes. Exactly 15 minutes pass when a black minivan pulls up to the entrance; a four-person squad is the first to exit the vehicle, and then finally, Murakami. The artist, internationally recognized for annual museum shows, artwork commissions for Kanye West and collaborations for Uniqlo UT, plops out of the car and waves to his greeting party. Instead of entering the gallery, he swiftly crosses the street to the Extra Butter boutique. One assistant calls a colleague to let her know about the rogue stunt: everything needs to be documented. [READ FULL ARTICLE ON HYPEBEAST →](   [Go To Preference Centre](     [More HYPEBEAST Features]( [[ARTS]( [Best Art Drops: Punk Ceramics, Kevin Lyons x Nike Running Tees & More]( [[SPORTS]( [Poll: Who Will Win the 2018 FIFA World Cup?]( Get The App Free on iOS and Android Follow 2018 HYPEBEAST Limited. All Rights Reserved [Manage Subscriptions]( [Unsubscribe]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to HYPEBEAST's marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from us any time by clicking [here](. Our Mailing Address: HYPEBEAST, 12F, 10-16 Kwai Ting Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong