Travel Diary: Exhibition “MONONOKE KYOTO”

Travel Diary: Takashi Murakami's "MONONOKE KYOTO" Exhibition
📍 Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, 2024

That morning, Kyoto was cool in autumn. We went to the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, a large art museum located in the heart of Okazaki. The sky was clear, and the soft sunlight cast shadows through the changing leaves. The atmosphere was calm, but it was filled with people heading to the same exhibition.

At the entrance, a large poster of Takashi Murakami stood tall, brightly colored, and the characters' big eyes looked back as if they were alive. The name 展覧会 (Tenrankai) "MONONOKE KYOTO" in Japanese characters reflected the sunlight, giving a sense of wonder even before stepping inside.

🌸 MONONOKE KYOTO - A World of Ghosts and Neo-Pop Art

The first step into the exhibition room, it felt like entering another dimension. The large black walls created a mysterious atmosphere, contrasting with the light shining on the intricately arranged works.

🖼️ Skulls, Ghosts, and Living Colors
One of the most eye-catching works is Murakami’s iconic character “DOB”, transformed into a terrifying ghostly figure. Sharp teeth, wide eyes, and a body that seems to move for real, each element is filled with astonishing details.

In the center of the exhibition room is a large, shimmering gold skull sculpture. Inside, there is a reflection of ancient Japanese art, subtly conveying the convergence of the past and present.

🖌️ Japanese art + pop culture = Murakami Style
In one corner of the room, a panel of ancient Japanese ukiyo-e works is reinterpreted through cutting-edge colors and patterns. Yokai (Japanese mythical ghosts) are redrawn in a neo-pop style, like a dreamscape that fuses the past with the cyberpunk world.

Soft background music creates a surreal atmosphere as you walk through each piece. Feel like you are sucked into Murakami's universe full of charm, fun, and mystery of Japanese ghosts.

🎨 Exhibition highlights

✅ "Flower Superflat" - Brightly colored flower paintings, but with emptiness and symbols of ever-changing life.

✅ "Amano-no-Iwato Reimagined" - Japanese mythological deities painted in a pop art style, combining the gold leaf technique of Japanese painting.

✅ "The Yokai Parade" - Large canvases filled with detailed ghosts, glowing in the dark, making the paintings seem alive.

✅ "Superflat Dob" - Dark mode DOB characters, full of lines that look like illusions.

🎭 Finally, the souvenir shop.

Before leaving the exhibition, we stopped by the souvenir corner. The most popular item was definitely Murakami Flower Goods. Rainbow flowers with bright faces on everything from T-shirts to posters.

Finally, we chose to buy DOB Monster keychains, Yokai stickers, and an exhibition catalogue as souvenirs.

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