Perrotin Los Angeles presents Takashi Murakami’s solo exhibition Hark Back to Ukiyo-e: Tracing Superflat to Japonisme’s Genesis (February 14 - March 14, 2026), featuring 24 new paintings. Inspired by Monet’s Giverny and his own Superflat theory, Murakami traces how Japanese ukiyo-e—particularly bijinga (pictures of beautiful women)—influenced Impressionism in the late 1800s. He examines how Edo-period masters like Utamaro and Kiyonaga’s sensual depictions of courtesans and geisha, with novel compositions, flat colors, and erotic elements, inspired Monet and others. The show includes monumental reinterpretations of Utamaro’s teahouse scenes, direct copies linking bijinga to Monet’s Woman with a Parasol, and works connecting these historical influences to contemporary kawaii culture, including pieces inspired by Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises. Additional paintings reference Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Rinpa flower motifs as precedents for Murakami’s iconic “happy flowers.” Through meticulous silkscreen techniques, Murakami revives Edo copying traditions to explore art historical continuities.
Takashi Murakami: Hark Back to Ukiyo-e: Tracing Superflat to Japonisme’s Genesis (February 14 - March 14, 2026). Solo exhibition at Perrotin Los Angeles. February 28, 2026.
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