Murakami

Contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, after graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, became fixated to "Otaku" culture prevalent in modern Japan, which was often associated with "nerdy" anime and manga, he believed that, through the deficit of a real market for Japanese contemporary art, which was just saturated with low class, shallow appropriation of Western trends, an animation and otaku culture was more representative of modern Japanese culture, art and life.
Working under KaiKai KiKi, LLC. (www.kaikaikiki.co.jp) Murakami constructs his signature "Superflat" style prints which consists of flat planes of color and graphic images involving a character style derived from anime and manga.


Owning a piece of Murakami's infamous smiling flower print, in the form of a cellphone strap, sure will brighten anyones day!

So prevalent is his work, collaborations with industry big-wigs such as Louis Vuitton also came out during the past years, enjoying a lot of criticism from both sides of the spectrum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C84FLwm3DA

This is a really cool video.