Tan Tan-Bo 2003

Takashi Murakami made this colourful print – a digital print, I think – sometime after his birth in 1962. It’s such a trip, isn’t it? Look at the surface: it's flat and glossy, full of cartoonish shapes and psychedelic colours. I imagine Murakami in his studio, surrounded by assistants, meticulously planning every detail, but also allowing for spontaneity and improvisation. What might it have been like to create such a complex and visually overwhelming piece? There's a definite nod to pop art, but with a Japanese twist. The bright, almost acidic colours and the playful imagery remind me of animation – but it’s also got a dark, edgy side. See the big teeth? That feels very contemporary, doesn't it? It's like Murakami is taking all these different languages and mashing them up into something totally new. I can't wait to see what he does next, because, well, artists are always talking to each other, inspiring each other, it’s this ongoing conversation across time.