SEVEN DAYS IN THE ART WORLD - CHAPTER 6 - THE STUDIO VISIT

"On the back of his seat, a sign informs us that our driver's hobbies are (1) baseball, (2) fishing, (3) driving.(p. 184)" In Japan they announce the taxi drivers hobbies? I guess, as a means of making polite conversation. That's nice, I think, or strange. I've never had any desire to know that much about my taxi drivers, but it seems the feeling is mutual.

"One of Murakami's most visible commissions has been for the accessories giant Louis Vuitton. In 2000 the company's artistic director, Marc Jacobs, asked Murakami to reenvision 'monogram canvas'...(p. 186)" Many artists would call that "selling out", but not only is it a big commission, but it gives the artist exposure to alot of different people, which Murakami seems to be concerned with.
And again "Murakami was referring to Graduation, the hip-hop artist's third album, for which he also designed the singles covers and an animated music video.(p. 200)"

"Initially called the Hiropon Factory, in homage to Warhol's Factory and his manufacturing model of art production, it was renamed Kaikai Kiki in 2002, when Murakami reconceptualized his entire operation along the lines of a marketing and communications company.(p. 192)" I like all the comparisons between Murakami and Warhol. I love Warhol and that his persona was a work of art in itself.

"Murakami is a noncomformist in many ways, but he is utterly conventional when it comes to his Japanese work ethic, for Kaikai Kiki is typical of the nation's notoriously demanding corporate culture. (p. 200)"

"The DVDs of Hayao Miyazaki--the director of Spirited Away and other critically acclaimed animated features is one of Murakami's heroes--sat in an orderly row, while a wide range of art books (about colorists like Henri Matisse and masters of deformation like Francis Bacon) was mixed in below. (p. 201)" Its interesting how he draws from so many different styles that seemingly have little conversation with his work.