Eye Love Superflat (Black) 2003

Takashi Murakami made "Eye Love Superflat (Black)" to explore ideas about consumer culture and art. The image creates meaning through a combination of visual codes and cultural references. It was made in Japan, a country with a long history of mixing high and low culture. The work includes the 'monogram' associated with the fashion house Louis Vuitton which is interwoven with the artist’s cartoon eyes. Murakami’s work draws inspiration from Japanese pop culture, anime and manga, and traditional art forms. He formed an institutional art production and management company called Kaikai Kiki which is a sign of the artist’s interest in the commercial side of art. To understand this work better, we could look into research on consumerism, art history, and Japanese culture. We can examine how art reflects society and the institutions that shape it.