Takashi Murakami “Hiropon 2001” Signed Poster ED300 Superflat Icon Sculptural Era Kaikai Kiki Authentic Contemporary Art Print

THE SUPERFLAT SCULPTURE ERA
Where Pop Culture, Critique, and Fantasy Collide
Murakami’s early 2000s sculptural works stand among the most influential and contentious in contemporary art. In these pieces, the artist interrogates otaku culture, media saturation, hyper-consumerism, and the boundaries between innocence and adult fantasy. Works from this period—such as Hiropon—are not merely provocative: they are academically recognized as watershed moments that pushed Japanese contemporary art into the global sphere.
This collection gathers prints, posters, and editions tied to Murakami’s historic sculptural breakthroughs, each a document of the moment when Superflat stepped decisively into world art history.

✨ PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

This rare Takashi Murakami “Hiropon 2001” poster (ED300), complete with the artist’s hand signature, represents one of the most pivotal chapters in the evolution of the Superflat movement. Released as a limited edition documenting Murakami’s internationally acclaimed sculptural debut, this work serves as a historical archive of the artist’s early conceptual inquiries into the aesthetics and psychology of otaku culture.

Originally unveiled in Murakami’s landmark exhibitions between 1997–2001, the Hiropon sculpture became one of his first pieces to gain global critical attention. Rather than existing as mere shock-value content, the work critiques the exaggerated fantasies, consumer desire, and media archetypes that defined late-20th-century Japanese subculture. The poster offered here functions as a museum-style record of that moment—featuring the iconic figure in a gallery installation setting, captured by Joshua White.

Produced in offset print with Murakami’s distinct pink production text, the edition highlights the collaborative craftsmanship behind the sculpture’s creation, including contributions from noted modelers, studios, and the HIROPON FACTORY. As an early documentation piece, it provides rich insight into Murakami’s process before Kaikai Kiki became the multinational cultural force it is today.

For collectors of contemporary art, Japanese post-war culture, or Superflat history, this work offers an essential anchor to Murakami’s conceptual foundation: the intersection of pop iconography, critique, and visually maximalist fantasy. It is a historically important artifact that deepens any serious Murakami collection.

📦 ITEM SPECIFICS & CONDITION REPORT

• Title: Hiropon 2001 Poster
• Artist: Takashi Murakami
• Edition: ED300 (Signed)
• Size: 500 × 500 mm
• Technique: Offset Print
• Signature: Hand-signed by Murakami
• Production Notes (printed on poster):
 – Original plan & production: Takashi Murakami
 – Prototype sculpture: Toru Saegusa (Shadow Moon)
 – Support: Kirin Brewery Co., Tomio Koyama Gallery
 – Finish Work: HIROPON FACTORY
 – Photo documentation: Joshua White
 – Collection Courtesy: Feature Inc., Tomio Koyama Gallery, Emmanuel Perrotin, Blum & Poe

CONDITION:
Unused, excellent condition. Poster shows no visible flaws; preserved in storage. Edges, print surface, and coloration remain crisp, with no tears, dents, or moisture marks. Signature at lower right is clean and unmarred.

🌸 WHY COLLECT THIS WORK

1. A foundational piece of Murakami’s sculptural era.
Documents the sculpture that launched Murakami’s international critical acclaim.

2. Academic significance.
This poster is frequently referenced in scholarly writings about Superflat and the critique of otaku consumer culture.

3. Rare signed edition of 300.
Low-edition documentation posters from early 2000s are scarce and increasingly sought-after.

4. Links sculpture, photography, and printed ephemera.
Acts as an interdisciplinary record of Murakami’s early collaborative production methods.

5. A key anchor piece for any Superflat or contemporary Japanese art collection.

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