Art History Assignment

You will find a piece of art that you find beautiful or interesting and do a research-based
piece on it. You may not use Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy
Warhol, Van Gogh or Georgia O’Keefe. Using someone Non-Western (not European) would
be preferred. I want you to broaden your artistic horizons a bit. The visual image of the art
can be digital, or if you would like you can recreate it using color/drawing materials. The
paper needs to include the following information.

1.) A visual illustration or digital image of the art, and the website sources where you got
your information. 2 points

2.) Artwork and Artist’s Background, 8 points: This section needs to include the name, date
and period of the artwork. Name of the artist, date and location of their birth. Where they
lived, worked (if different from place of birth) and studied. Any other personal
information that you feel might be pertinent to know about the artist’s background.

Artwork Info:
 Name: Tan Tan Bo
 Date/Period: 2001

Artist Info:
 Name: Takashi Murakami
 DOB: February 1, 1992
 Live/work location: Tokyo, Japan and New York City
 Study: Japanese painting at the Tokyo National university of Fine Arts and Music
 Other
o He made his European debut in 1995 “Transculture”, held at Venice Biennale.
 o In 2003, he worked with the Louis Vuitton fashion house, artistic director, to
produce fashion accessories.

3.) Major Accomplishments of the Artist, 10 points: Why are they famous? What are they
best known for? Did they receive any awards or honors? Did they invent any new
techniques or materials?
 
Why is he famous?
He is famous for his ability to adapt Japanese aesthetic traditional art to the context of popular
culture. Additionally, he is famous for his “Take My Lonesome Cowboy” piece which hold the
highest artist auction record of $12.5 million.
What is he best known for?
He is best known for spreading and promoting pop art strategies and his bold striking imagery.
Also, he is known for his art production company, Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.
Did he receive any awards or honors?
Yes, he received some domestic and international award. One domestic award that he received
was 2008 “GQ Men of the Year” and one international award that he received was “The Most
Influential People in the World 100” in 2008. One of his most recent award was this year when
he receive the “2022 Webby Special Achievement Award” for his lifelong career.
Did he invent any new techniques or materials?
Yes, he invented or is the founder of the technique called, “superflat”. It refers to bold outline,
flat coloring, and lack of depth, perspective, and three dimensionality.

4.) What made their work unique or how did this piece change the direction of art? 10
points: How did their work effect art history? How was this piece culturally significant to
the time period? How did it influence other artists? Why is the piece of art still considered
important today?

How did his work effect art history?

It effects art history because art is not just about landscape, portraits, simple color, or old
looking piece of art. It can be colorful, abstract, and simple. Most of his work is loaded with
cuteness and innocence, which you don’t really see it in western or art history.
How was this piece culturally significant to the time period?
This piece culturally significant to the time period because manga and anime was a big thing in
2001 and/or the culture. Additionally, the art piece is culturally significant because it is an
expansion of traditional Japanese sign and imagery.
How did it influence other artists?
It influences other artist to use more bright and vibrant color in their art piece. Also, flatness
can create depth and movement using line, colors, and simple drawing. Additionally, cuteness
can be art too.
Why is the piece of art still considered important today?
This piece of art still considered important today because of Murakami’s fascinating artistic
style, classical and contemporary. Furthermore, this piece encapsulates his “superflat” aesthetic
that was mention earlier. Additionally, this piece addresses the nature of post war in Japanese
culture and society.

5.) How could you use this piece of art in the classroom? 10 points: Give me an idea for a
unit, lesson or project that this piece of art could be used in. Are there any themes this
artwork relates to? How could you introduce this artwork to kids in your class to get them
excited about art history?

A lesson that I can use this art piece in is having my students make an abstract or contemporary
art piece using lines, shapes, and color that represent a significant event in their life to create a
creature or something of their choice. Some themes that this artwork relate to is story, time,
identity, humor, loss and desire. These are some themes that the artwork relates to because a
significant event doesn’t always have to happy or one thing, it can be multiple things, so those
are just some things that they can use to create their art piece. How I would introduce art
history or the artwork to kids in my class is by talking about the history of Japanese art or style
leading up to Murakami’s art. Additionally, some term that they probably never heard before
like kawaii and nihonga. Then, after I would dive deeper in to the history of this particular art
and why he created it.

Each question in each section must be answered to the best of your ability to receive full
points. If a question is not answered it will result in a loss of points.

Total points ________/40

 Source

https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-takashi-murakami/series-tan-tan-bo

https://www.thebroad.org/art/takashi-murakami#:~:text=Takashi%20Murakami%20is%20one
%20of,by%20American%20critics%20and%20artists.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Murakami-Takashi

https://www.gallerym.com/pages/takashi-murakami-biography

https://www.theartstory.org/artist/murakami-takashi/