Takashi Murakami: An Homage to IKB, 1957 E

Takashi Murakami’s limited-edition offset print An Homage to IKB, 1957 E features a dense, allover field of the artist’s iconic multicolored smiling flowers. The “IKB” of the work’s title refers to International Klein Blue, a process registered in France in 1960 by painter Yves Klein that combines ultramarine pigment with a specific synthetic resin binder, the unique combination being considered a work of Conceptual art. Murakami’s floral character is inspired by his own training in nihonga (traditional Japanese painting), which focuses on natural forms. Combining historical Western and Eastern influences with the contemporary aesthetics of anime and kawaii culture, this work embodies Murakami's distinctive Superflat philosophy.