GALLERIES | By Michelle P. Vu | April 1, 2019
We had the opportunity to visit the Gagosian Gallery, first opened by Larry Gagosian, in Beverly Hills, California last month. According to the Gagosian, the gallery first debut in 1980 and primarily focused on modern and contemporary art. Today, it has evolved into a global network with more than 16 exhibitions opened around the world and in major cities such as New York, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.
The gallery is currently displaying new works by contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Titled GYATEI², the inspiration for the name “comes from the Buddhist Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra), a popular sutra in Mahanyana Buddhism” says the Gagosian, and “drawing from traditional Japanese painting, sci-fi, anime, and pop culture, Murakami’s oeuvre comprises paintings, sculptures, films, and a stream of commercial products populated by mutating characters of his own creation.”
Open to the public, we visited the gallery on the first weekend of exhibit’s opening. The building of the gallery has a side glass panel window and anyone casually passing by was able to take a peek at what’s inside. Curated in the front of the two story gallery is A Statue of Flower Parent and Child (2019), a sixteen feet tall bronze sculpture featuring the artist’s iconic smiling flower as the head of the parent and its child. This was one of our personal favorites from the exhibit. Along the walls hung variations of the smiling rainbow flower, Mr. DOB, and a fish mural reminiscent of Chinese vases. Another notable favorite of ours showcases Nobita Nobi, Doraemon, and the artist over a background of Murakami’s flower.
The exhibit opens until April 13, 2019 for anyone who would like to visit
Website: TAKASHI MURAKAMI
