Orange County Register

I went to see the new Takashi Murakami exhibit at MOCA in Los Angeles today.

Specifically, it is at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA space in Little Tokyo. I got there early, so I checked out some of the little shops and yogurt places in Little Tokyo. Man, those yogurt stops are multiplying.

If you haven’t been to the Geffen Contemporary before, it’s an interesting place for viewing art — a converted warehouse with old rafters and a gigantic steel dividing wall still in place. Note: They’re CLOSED on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s a link to more about the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

The “© Murakami” show, as it’s titled, has a little bit of everything: sculpture, paintings, video and, of course, a gift store. There’s even a boutique store upstairs in the galleries selling Murakami designed Louis Vuitton bags. A bit over the consumerist line, if you ask me. And the prices? Astronomical. Got $700 for a notepad, or $500,000 for a trunk full of Louis Vuitton bags?The Murakami exhibit is not for small children; there’s some sexually explicit and suggestive work in there. It’s pretty tame though… teenagers can handle it.

Anyway, if you don’t know Takashi Murakami’s work, he’s the guy who does the big cartoonish characters inspired by Japanese anime and manga. His favorite characters are Kaikai, Kiki, DOB and a blond girl named ko2. He also does animated mushrooms with sharp teeth and smiling flowers.

Rap fans might know his work — he did the album cover for Kanye West’s most recent album, “Graduation,” as well as the video for the first song, “Good Morning.” I think he’s done a couple other West videos.

Murakami is responsible for that cute anime bear that represents West in the video/animated world. Kanye did a well-received performance for the opening of the Murakami show on Oct. 28. 

Incidentally, West and Murakami are going to launch a jewelry line together. Here’s a story on that bit of news.

I should have a review either this weekend or next in the Arts section of ocregister.com and in the Sunday Arts & Entertainment section of The Orange County Register.

Meanwhile, look out for my thoughts on Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud. A retrospective of his work is at the Laguna Art Museum, through Jan. 27.

See ya!

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