Takashi Murakami Exhibit - Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow - 100 Arhats
百羅漢 (hyaku rakan) One Hundred Arhats
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crude mosaic
Amitabha Buddha Descends, Looking Over His Shoulder
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(sun and moon reversed) Land achieving Buddhahood
Of Chinese Lions, Peonies, Skulls and Fountains (2011)
Some traditional Japanese arts use Japanese kanji and kana to ornament, inform, or even perplex. While Murakami (in this exhibit) doesn't seem to use writing in his works (except for thought baloons in some Mr. DOB compositions), he ornamented this piece with the Chinese/Japanese language phrase,
草木国土悉皆伐仏 (Sōmoku kokudo shikkai jōbutsu) [All plants, trees, and lands can all become Buddhas] from the Nirvana sutra
In the picture, the lioness, with a peony on her head, surrounded by four lion cubs, on a bridge of skulls, "fountains", appearing very much like pipes spewing effluence.
This artwork bears a signature.
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"When our limbs are taken away, our hearts are ironically freed." 2008
"My arms and legs rot off and though my blood rushes forth, the tranquility of my heart shall be prized above all (Red blood, black blood, blood that is not blood) 2007"
(oblique view to minimize reflection of adjacent artwork)
"In the Land of the Dead: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow" (2014)
"Kaikai Kiki" ・ "Mr. DOB" ・ Figures
Black Gallery ・ Flowers ・ Dream Hall ・ Skulls
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