Artist: Takashi Murakami
Title: Champignon (2006)
Price purchased: $900USD
Edition: 49/300
Date purchased: December 2014

Story:  Murakami’s work has been very popular these past few years and can be found on designer handbags, toys, tshirts, magazine covers, etc.  I first came across his work in an article from Giant Robot magazine back in 1999.  Here’s the cover which hooked me:

Back then, I wasn’t really into art and just thought it was neat.  About a decade later, I gradually appreciated art more and as Murakami’s fame rose, I started noticing his work again.  To be honest, I never loved all of his pieces.  I felt some were too “kidish” and some were to “adultish” and some were a bit too “weird” for me.  But I was really drawn to this Champignon piece. I loved the playful colours and the artistic  variations of mushrooms (size, shape, colour and pattern).  I guess it also sort of reminds me of what I intended to do with Boutiqueoeuff – playing off the egg theme with various styles.  The fun story here was that this was a gift from my parents and wife for Christmas a few years ago. And like most things, it almost gave my dad a heart-attack.  Just like my shoes when I was kid, he never spent so much on something like this, even for himself.  The fact that it was utter garbage to him made it even more painful. Regardless, he kept his mouth shut, pitched in and even had to sign for it as it was delivered to his place.  The “grumpy man” has a real soft spot for me.

This version was a 2006 release signed and dated in black ink, numbered 49/300.  It’s co-published by the artist and Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., Tokyo and New York,  I believe there’s a silver print edition from 2002 (edition of 50) which is worth a lot more.  I also think there’s a 2003 version but I haven’t tracked down the differences yet.