This week in PostMag: Art everywhere throughout Hong Kong, European museums tour, and more
With Art Basel and Art Central on the horizon, we speak with artists such as Takashi Murakami, as well as hit some European art destinations
We simply couldn’t have let this week pass without an arts special, could we? Perhaps it’s just the infectious energy percolating through the city right now as Art Basel and Art Central arrive, but I’m excited to share this issue with you.
For one, there’s our cover – a special creation by Takashi Murakami. (There are two, in fact.) The Japanese artist has taken original works from his 2024 show “Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo (feat. Takashi Murakami)” at New York’s Brooklyn Museum and turned the level of iconic up to 11 with his unmistakable prismatic characters.
Murakami is everywhere, we proclaim alongside these custom artworks on our cover, and I’ve been reminded of that truth continually since we typed it out. We’ve seen his bright, kaleidoscopic smiley-faced flower patches on a backpack bobbing down the street and a television special on his work flashing across the screen in our office. And that’s only in the past 12 hours.
I don’t think it’s shocking news that he’s everywhere – arguably it’s a statement that’s held true for nearly two decades – but for me, what’s impressive is not only Murakami’s ability to stay relevant, but his sheer stamina. The last time our magazine spoke with him was in 2012, when he was in town for his exhibition “Flowers & Skulls” at the Gagosian Gallery in Central. Fionnuala McHugh wrote, “Once you start looking around, his creepily cute mushrooms, flowers and critters are everywhere.” 13 years later, his relevance hasn’t faded and he’s doing more than ever. Can you be in more places than everywhere? Because if you can, Murakami is.
A pessimist might say he’s too commercial, but I’m struck by Murakami’s generosity and willingness to get involved. A custom artwork for our cover? Sure! How about two? Let’s do it. It’s the kind of energy we’d all be better for embracing. In this issue’s cover feature, the artist chats with Betty Richardson about his latest work, this year’s re-release of his sought-after Louis Vuitton collaboration and the legacy he’ll leave behind.
There’s more than enough to see at Art Basel and Art Central. Where to start? Gavin Yeung gives a quick overview, or dive in deeper with Karen Cheung, who speaks with artist Chow Chun-fai and journalist Sharon Cheung Po-wah about Chow’s show “Interview the Interviewer II”, which will be on view at Art Basel. Chow interrogates what it means to be a Hong Kong artist, particularly in this day and age.